West Virginia 2021 Regular Session Status: Enacted 3 R cosponsors

SB 421 — Authorizing Workforce West Virginia to hire at-will employees

Last action — Chapter 135, Acts, Regular Session, 2021

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed Senate
  4. ✓
    Passed House of Delegates
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 23, 2021. Enacted.

Prognosis

Advancing 44% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

High

How often bills like it became law.

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 3 sponsors

    1 primary, 2 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (3 R).

  • Failed a recorded vote

    Failed 1 recorded vote so far — a real headwind.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

82 added · 90 removed

Plain-language change summary

The recent amendment to SB 421 changes the language from referring to the "bureau of employment programs" to simply "Workforce West Virginia," which clarifies the agency’s name. It also adds the responsibility for the commissioner to ensure compliance with both state and relevant federal regulations. These changes are important because they streamline the language for better understanding and clearly outline the commissioner’s duties to adhere to legal standards, which can improve accountability within the agency.

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NEWS RELEASES HELPFUL LINKS SB421 SUB1 « Senate Bill 421 History OTHER VERSIONS  —  Enrolled Version - Final Version  |  Introduced Version  |   |  Email Key:
NEWS RELEASES HELPFUL LINKS Enrolled Version - Final Version « Senate Bill 421 History OTHER VERSIONS  —  Committee Substitute (1)  |  Introduced Version  |   |  Email Key:
Red = new code to be enacted WEST virginia legislature regular session Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 421 By Senators Tarr, Roberts, and Woodrum [Originating in the Committee on Government Organization;
Red = new code to be enacted WEST virginia legislature regular session Enrolled Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 421 By Senators Tarr, Roberts, and Woodrum [Passed April 2, 2021;
reported on March 3, 2021]     A BILL to amend and reenact §21A-2-6 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to the general powers and duties of the Commissioner of Workforce West Virginia;
in effect 90 days from passage]     AN ACT to amend and reenact §21A-2-6 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to the general powers and duties of the Commissioner of Workforce West Virginia;
Article 2.  the commissioner of the bureau of employment programs Workforce West Virginia.
Article 2.  the commissioner of Workforce West Virginia.
The commissioner is the executive and administrative head of the bureau Workforce West Virginia and has the power and duty to:
The commissioner is the executive and administrative head of Workforce West Virginia and has the power and duty to:
(1) Exercise general supervision for the governance of the bureau Workforce West Virginia and propose rules for promulgation in accordance with the provisions of article three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code §29A-3-1 et seq.
(1) Exercise general supervision for the governance of Workforce West Virginia and propose rules for promulgation in accordance with the provisions of §29A-3-1 et seq.
(2) Prescribe uniform rules pertaining to investigations, and departmental hearings, and propose rules for promulgation;
(2) Prescribe uniform rules pertaining to investigations and departmental hearings, and propose rules for promulgation;
(3) Supervise fiscal affairs and responsibilities of the bureau Workforce West Virginia;
(3) Supervise fiscal affairs and responsibilities of Workforce West Virginia;
(4) Prescribe the qualifications of, appoint, remove, and fix the compensation of, the officers and employees of the bureau Workforce West Virginia, subject to the provisions of section ten, article four of this chapter §21A-4-10 of this code, relating to the Board of Review;
(4) Prescribe the qualifications of, appoint, remove, and fix the compensation of, the officers and employees of Workforce West Virginia, subject to the provisions of §21A-4-10 of this code, relating to the Board of Review;
(5) Organize and administer the bureau Workforce West Virginia so as to comply with the requirements of this chapter and to satisfy any conditions established in applicable federal law or regulation;
(5) Organize and administer Workforce West Virginia so as to comply with the requirements of this chapter and to satisfy any conditions established in applicable federal law or regulation;
(8) Keep an accurate and complete record of all bureau Workforce West Virginia proceedings, record and file all bonds and contracts, and assume responsibility for the custody and preservation of all papers and documents of the bureau Workforce West Virginia;
(8) Keep an accurate and complete record of all Workforce West Virginia proceedings, record and file all bonds and contracts, and assume responsibility for the custody and preservation of all papers and documents of Workforce West Virginia;
(9) Sign and execute in the name of the state, by the “Bureau of Employment Programs” Workforce West Virginia, any contract or agreement with the federal government, its agencies, other states, their subdivisions, or private persons;
(9) Sign and execute in the name of the state, by Workforce West Virginia, any contract or agreement with the federal government, its agencies, other states, their subdivisions, or private persons;
(10) Prescribe a salary scale to govern compensation of appointees and employees of the bureau Workforce West Virginia;
(10) Prescribe a salary scale to govern compensation of appointees and employees of Workforce West Virginia;
(11) Exempt up to 100 positions of the offices of WorkForce West Virginia from the classified service of the state, the employees of which positions shall serve at the will and pleasure of the commissioner:  Provided, That such exempt positions shall be in addition to those positions in classified and classified-exempt service under the classification plan adopted by the Division of Personnel.
(11) Exempt up to 100 positions of the offices of WorkForce West Virginia from the classified service of the state, the employees of which positions shall serve at the will and pleasure of the commissioner:
Provided, That such exempt positions shall be in addition to those positions in classified and classified-exempt service under the classification plan adopted by the Division of Personnel.
(11) (12) Make the original determination of right in claims for benefits;
(12) Make the original determination of right in claims for benefits;
(12) (13) Make recommendations and an annual report to the Governor concerning the condition, operation, and functioning of the bureau Workforce West Virginia;
(13) Make recommendations and an annual report to the Governor concerning the condition, operation, and functioning of Workforce West Virginia;
(13) (14) Invoke any legal or special remedy for the enforcement of orders or the provisions of this chapter;
(14) Invoke any legal or special remedy for the enforcement of orders or the provisions of this chapter;
(14) (15) Exercise any other power necessary to standardize administration, expedite bureau Workforce West Virginia business, assure the establishment of fair rules, and promote the efficiency of the service;
(15) Exercise any other power necessary to standardize administration, expedite Workforce West Virginia business, assure the establishment of fair rules, and promote the efficiency of the service;
(15) (16) Keep an accurate and complete record and prepare a monthly report of the number of persons employed and unemployed in the state.
(16) Keep an accurate and complete record and prepare a monthly report of the number of persons employed and unemployed in the state.
(16) (17) Provide, at bureau Workforce West Virginia expense, a program of continuing professional, technical, and specialized instruction for the personnel of the bureau Workforce West Virginia;
(17) Provide, at Workforce West Virginia expense, a program of continuing professional, technical, and specialized instruction for the personnel of Workforce West Virginia;
(17) (18) (A) Propose rules for legislative approval in accordance with the provisions of article three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code §29A-3-1 et seq.
(18) (A) Propose rules for legislative approval in accordance with the provisions of §29A-3-1 et seq.
An employing unit is not in default if it has entered into a repayment agreement with the Unemployment Compensation Division of the bureau Workforce West Virginia and remains in compliance with its obligations under the repayment agreement;
An employing unit is not in default if it has entered into a repayment agreement with the Unemployment Compensation Division of Workforce West Virginia and remains in compliance with its obligations under the repayment agreement;
(B) The rules shall provide that, before revoking, granting, issuing, or renewing any contract, license, permit, certificate, or other authority to conduct a trade, profession, or business to or with any employing unit, the designated agencies shall review a list or lists provided by the bureau of employers Workforce West Virginia that are in default.
(B) The rules shall provide that, before revoking, granting, issuing, or renewing any contract, license, permit, certificate, or other authority to conduct a trade, profession, or business to or with any employing unit, the designated agencies shall review a list or lists provided by Workforce West Virginia that are in default.
If the employing unit’s name is not on the list, the agency, unless it has actual knowledge that the employing unit is in default with the bureau Workforce West Virginia, may grant, issue, or renew the contract, license, permit, certificate, or other authority to conduct a trade, profession, or business.
If the employing unit’s name is not on the list, the agency, unless it has actual knowledge that the employing unit is in default with Workforce West Virginia, may grant, issue, or renew the contract, license, permit, certificate, or other authority to conduct a trade, profession, or business.
The presumptions of ownership or control contained in the Department of Environmental Protection’s surface mining reclamation regulations promulgated under the provisions of article three, chapter twenty-two of this code §22-3-1 et seq.
The presumptions of ownership or control contained in the Department of Environmental Protection’s surface mining reclamation regulations promulgated under the provisions of §22-3-1 et seq.
The rules shall also provide a procedure allowing any agency or interested person, after being covered under the rules for at least one year, to petition the Bureau of Employment Programs Workforce West Virginia to be exempt from the provisions of the rules;
The rules shall also provide a procedure allowing any agency or interested person, after being covered under the rules for at least one year, to petition Workforce West Virginia to be exempt from the provisions of the rules;
(18) (19) Deposit to the credit of the appropriate special revenue account or fund, notwithstanding any other provision of this code and to the extent allowed by federal law, all amounts of delinquent payments or overpayments, interest, and penalties thereon and attorney’s fees and costs collected under the provisions of this chapter.
(19) Deposit to the credit of the appropriate special revenue account or fund, notwithstanding any other provision of this code and to the extent allowed by federal law, all amounts of delinquent payments or overpayments, interest, and penalties thereon and attorney’s fees and costs collected under the provisions of this chapter.
and (19) (20) Enter into interagency agreements to assist in exchanging information and fulfilling the provisions of this article.
and (20) Enter into interagency agreements to assist in exchanging information and fulfilling the provisions of this article.
View plain text versions (3)

Action History

  1. Chapter 135, Acts, Regular Session, 2021

  2. Approved by Governor 4/15/21

  3. Approved by Governor 4/15/21 - House Journal

  4. Approved by Governor 4/15/21 - Senate Journal

  5. To Governor 4/7/21 - House Journal

  6. To Governor 4/7/21

  7. House Message received

  8. Completed legislative action

  9. Communicated to Senate

  10. Passed House (Roll No. 409)

  11. Read 3rd time

  12. On 3rd reading, Special Calendar

  13. Read 2nd time

  14. On 2nd reading, Special Calendar

  15. Read 1st time

  16. On 1st reading, Special Calendar

  17. Do pass

  18. To House Government Organization

  19. To Government Organization

  20. Introduced in House

  21. Ordered to House

  22. Passed Senate (Roll No. 91)

  23. Read 3rd time

  24. On 3rd reading

  25. Read 2nd time

  26. On 2nd reading

  27. Read 1st time

  28. On 1st reading

  29. Committee substitute reported

  30. To Government Organization

  31. Introduced in Senate

  32. To Government Organization

  33. Filed for introduction

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 2 co-sponsors · 149 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (2)

Not signed on (149)

149 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Subjects

Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors SB 421?
SB 421 is sponsored by Eric Tarr (Republican), Rollan A. Roberts (Republican), and Jack Woodrum (Republican).
What is the current status of SB 421?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 23, 2021. Enacted.
Where can I track SB 421?
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