Bill > HB4025

This bill, effective July 1, 2026, aims to grant the Secretaries of the Departments of Health Facilities, Human Services, and Health greater flexibility in managing their employees by exempting most new hires and promoted employees within these departments 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. The state grievance process provides a formal procedure for employees to address complaints. 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 standard civil service rules or the state grievance process. However, the Secretaries of these departments will have the authority to designate certain employee statuses to comply with federal requirements for funding, and the bill explicitly states that these changes do not exempt the departments from laws prohibiting nepotism, favoritism, discrimination, or unethical practices. Positions appointed by the Governor are also excluded from these exemptions.

Government Affairs

http://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/Bills_history.cfm?input=4025&year=2026&sessiontype=RS&btype=bill