Source: http://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/bills_text.cfm?billdoc=HB3004%20SUB%20ENR.htm&yr=2018&sesstype=RS&i=3004
Timestamp: 2020-02-19 13:46:24
Document Index: 493701045

Matched Legal Cases: ['§3', '§3', '§3', '§3', '§3', '§3', '§3', '§3', '§3', '§3', '§3', '§3', '§3', '§3', '§3', '§3', '§3', '§3', '§3', '§3', '§3']

House Bill 3004
By Delegates Hill, Martin, Howell, Kessinger, Statler, Shott, McGeehan and Espinosa
[Passed March 1, 2018; in effect ninety days from passage.]
AN ACT to amend and reenact §3-10-3, §3-10-4, §3-10-5, and §3-10-7 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, all relating generally to filling vacancies in certain offices; providing that the Governor shall appoint a person to fill a vacancy in an elected state office, choosing from a list of candidates required to be submitted by the executive committee of the political party with which the individual vacating the office was affiliated at the time the vacancy occurred; establishing a deadline for a party executive committee to submit names of qualified persons for vacancies in elected state offices; providing that appointments to elected state offices be made within a time certain; providing that the Governor shall appoint a person, of the same political party with which the individual vacating the office was affiliated at the time the vacancy occurred, to fill a vacancy in an elected state office when a party executive committee fails to submit names of qualified persons; providing that the Governor shall appoint a person, from a list of qualified persons required to be submitted by the executive committee of the political party with which the individual vacating the office was affiliated at the time the vacancy occurred, to fill a vacancy in the office of United States Senator; establishing a deadline for an executive committee to submit names of qualified persons for vacancies in the office of United States Senator; providing that appointment to fill vacancies in office of United States Senator be made within a time certain; providing for Governor to appoint a person, of the same political party with which the individual vacating the office was affiliated at the time the vacancy occurred, to fill a vacancy in United States Senate when the party executive committee fails to submit qualified names of qualified persons; providing for the Governor to appoint a person, of the same political party with which the person holding the office immediately preceding the vacancy was affiliated, to fill a vacancy in the state Legislature; providing for a county commission to select a person to fill a vacancy in the office of county commissioner or county clerk, who, for at least sixty days prior to the time a vacancy occurred, was affiliated with the same political party with which the individual vacating the office was affiliated at the time the vacancy occurred; providing a process by which the two most senior county commissioners may select a person, from a list of candidates required to be submitted by the executive committee of the political party with which the individual vacating the office was affiliated at the time the vacancy occurred, to fill a vacancy in the county commission when the commission fails to make a selection; providing for the Governor to appoint a person, from a list of candidates required to be submitted by the executive committee of the political party with which the individual vacating the office was affiliated at the time the vacancy occurred, to fill a vacancy in office of county commissioner if vacancies in the commission prevent a quorum; establishing a deadline for an executive committee to submit names of qualified persons for vacancies in a county commission; clarifying that appointments to county commissions to fill vacancies are for time periods specified by statute; and making technical corrections.
§3‑10‑3. Vacancies in offices of state officials, justices, judges, and magistrates.
(a) Any vacancy occurring in the offices of Secretary of State, Auditor, Treasurer, Attorney General, Commissioner of Agriculture, or in any office created or made elective to be filled by the voters of the entire state, is filled by the Governor of the state by appointment and subsequent election to fill the remainder of the term, if required by §3‑10‑1 of this code. The Governor shall make the appointment from a list of three legally qualified persons submitted by the party executive committee of the same political party with which the person holding the office immediately preceding the vacancy was affiliated at the time the vacancy occurred. The list of qualified persons to fill the vacancy shall be submitted to the Governor within 15 days after the vacancy occurs, and the Governor shall duly make his or her appointment to fill the vacancy from the list of legally qualified persons within five days after the list is received. If the list is not submitted to the Governor within the 15‑day period, the Governor shall appoint, within five days thereafter, a legally qualified person of the same political party with which the person holding the office immediately preceding the vacancy was affiliated at the time the vacancy occurred: Provided, That the provisions of this subsection do not apply to §3-10-3(b), §3-10-3 (c), §3-10-3(d), and §3-10-3(e) of this code.
§3‑10‑4. Vacancies in representation in United States Congress.
(b) If there is a vacancy in the representation from this state in the Senate of the United States Congress, the vacancy shall be filled by the Governor of the state by appointment. The Governor shall make the appointment from a list of three legally qualified persons submitted by the party executive committee of the same political party with which the person holding the office immediately preceding the vacancy was affiliated at the time the vacancy occurred. The list of qualified persons to fill the vacancy shall be submitted to the Governor within 15 days after the vacancy occurs, and the Governor shall duly make his or her appointment to fill the vacancy from the list of legally qualified persons within five days after the list is received. If the list is not submitted to the Governor within the 15‑day period, the Governor shall appoint, within five days thereafter, a legally qualified person of the same political party with which the person holding the office immediately preceding the vacancy was affiliated at the time the vacancy occurred.
(1) If the vacancy occurs on or before the primary cutoff date, then an election shall be held pursuant to §3‑10‑1 of this code; or
(2) If the vacancy occurs after the primary cutoff date, but on or before the general cutoff date, then the Governor shall issue a proclamation providing for: (A) A special filing period; (B) a special primary election to be held in conjunction with the upcoming general election; and (C) a special general election to be held not less than 84 nor more than 120 days following the date of the special primary election. Each election shall follow the requirements of §3‑10‑1 of this code that are not in conflict with this section.
§3‑10‑5. Vacancies in state Legislature.
(a) Any vacancy in the office of state senator or member of the House of Delegates shall be filled by appointment by the Governor, from a list of three legally qualified persons submitted by the party executive committee of the same political party with which the person holding the office immediately preceding the vacancy was affiliated at the time the vacancy occurred. The list of qualified persons to fill the vacancy shall be submitted to the Governor within 15 days after the vacancy occurs and the Governor shall duly make his or her appointment to fill the vacancy from the list of legally qualified persons within five days after the list is received. If the list is not submitted to the Governor within the 15‑day period, the Governor shall appoint within five days thereafter a legally qualified person of the same political party with which the person holding the office immediately preceding the vacancy was affiliated at the time the vacancy occurred.
(c) In the case of a state senator, the list shall be submitted by the party executive committee of the state senatorial district in which the vacating senator resided at the time of his or her election or appointment. The appointment to fill a vacancy in the state Senate is for the unexpired term, unless §3‑10‑1 of this code requires a subsequent election to fill the remainder of the term, which shall follow the procedure set forth in said section.
§3‑10‑7. Vacancies in offices of county commissioner and clerk of county commission.
(a) Any vacancy in the office of county commissioner or clerk of county commission shall be filled by appointment by the county commission. The appointee must be a person of the same political party with which the person holding the office immediately preceding the vacancy was affiliated at the time the vacancy occurred: Provided, that at the time of appointment, the appointee must have been a member of that political party for at least sixty days prior to the occurrence of the vacancy.
(b) If a quorum of the county commission fails to make an appointment within 30 days, the county executive committee of the same political party with which the person holding the office preceding the vacancy was affiliated at the time the vacancy occurred, shall submit a list of three legally qualified persons to fill the vacancy. Within 15 days from the date on which the list is received, the county commission shall appoint a candidate from the list to fill the vacancy. If the county commission fails to make the appointment within the specified time, then the county commissioner with the longest tenure shall eliminate one name from the submitted list, followed by the county commissioner with the second‑longest tenure then eliminating one name from the submitted list. The name remaining after those two names have been eliminated shall be deemed to be appointed by the county commission to fill the vacancy.
(d) An appointment made pursuant to this section is for the period of time provided in §3‑10‑1 of this code.
(f) If an election is necessary under §3‑10‑1 of this code, the county commission, or the president thereof in vacation, shall be responsible for the proper proclamation, by order, and notice required by §3‑10‑1 of this code.
(g) §3‑10‑1 of this code shall be followed with respect to any election needed to fill a vacancy, except that if the vacancy occurs after the primary cutoff date but not later than the general cutoff date, candidates to fill the vacancy shall be nominated by the county executive committee in the manner provided in §3-5-19 of this code, as in the case of filling vacancies in nominations, and the names of the persons, so nominated and certified to the clerk of the county commission of the county, shall be placed upon the ballot to be voted at the next general election.