Bill > SB401

This bill, effective July 1, 2026, aims to grant the Secretaries of the Departments of Health Facilities, Human Services, and Health, along with agency heads within these departments, greater flexibility in managing their employees by exempting new hires and promoted employees from the classified civil service system and the state grievance process. The classified civil service system is a framework that governs the hiring, promotion, and discipline of state employees to ensure fairness and merit-based advancement, while the state grievance process provides a formal procedure for employees to address disputes. While current employees in these departments will retain their existing civil service status and grievance rights as long as they remain in their current positions, any employee who leaves their position and remains a state employee within certain other departments will be moved to the "classified exempt service system," meaning they will no longer be subject to the state grievance procedures. The bill also allows department secretaries to designate certain employee statuses to comply with federal requirements and explicitly states that this exemption does not permit nepotism, favoritism, discrimination, or unethical practices, and it does not apply to positions appointed by the Governor.

Government Affairs

http://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/Bills_history.cfm?input=401&year=2026&sessiontype=RS&btype=bill