The bill amends sections 7-11-1 and 7-11-3 of the Code of West Virginia to establish requirements for county parks and recreation commissions. It authorizes county courts to create these commissions for the purpose of managing public parks and recreational facilities, with the stipulation that a county may be exempt if it can demonstrate fiscal incapacity or if it has already established a parks and recreation board or commission. Additionally, the composition of the commission will now consist of an odd number of members determined by the county commission based on the county's population, rather than a fixed number of eleven members.

Furthermore, the bill modifies the terms of commission members, allowing for a flexible appointment structure where the county court will set the terms for a certain number of members for one, two, and three years, rather than the previously specified distribution. It also clarifies that any member who ceases to be a bona fide resident or freeholder of the county will be disqualified, and their position will become vacant. The bill ensures continuity by allowing existing board members to remain until their terms expire, while also outlining the process for filling vacancies that may arise.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 7-11-1, 7-11-3
Engrossed Version: 7-11-1, 7-11-3