The bill amends and reenacts section 3-10-5 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, to establish clearer guidelines for filling vacancies in the state Legislature. It mandates that county and district political parties must adhere to the rules set by their respective state executive committees when submitting a list of qualified candidates to the Governor for appointment. Additionally, the bill stipulates that individuals must have resided within the district they intend to represent for at least one year prior to their appointment, ensuring that appointees have a connection to the community they will serve.

The new legal language inserted into the bill specifies that the process for composing and submitting the list of candidates will be governed by the rules of the political party's state executive committee. Furthermore, it introduces a requirement that no person can be appointed to fill a vacancy unless they have been a resident of the relevant district for one year before the appointment. These changes aim to enhance the integrity and accountability of the appointment process within the West Virginia Legislature.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 3-10-5
Committee Substitute: 3-10-5