West Virginia legislation · 2026 Regular Session
West Virginia HB4561: Clarifying the sheriff’s authority to hire within their office.
Status: Signed into law, March 19, 2026
What the bill says
An act to amend and reenact §7-14-13 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to clarifying a sheriff's authority to hire within their own office. Article 14. Civil Service for Deputy Sheriffs. §7-14-13. Vacancies filled by promotions; eligibility for promotion; rights of chief deputy. Vacancies in positions of deputy sheriff shall be filled, so far as practicable, by promotion from among persons holding positions in the next lower grade. Promotions shall be based upon merit and fitness, to be ascertained by competitive examinations to be provided by the civil service commissio.
From the enrolled text, March 10, 2026:
AN ACT to amend and reenact §7-14-13 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to clarifying a sheriff's authority to hire within their own office. Article 14. Civil Service for Deputy Sheriffs. §7-14-13. Vacancies filled by promotions; eligibility for promotion; rights of chief deputy. Vacancies in positions of deputy sheriff shall be filled, so far as practicable, by promotion from among persons holding positions in the next lower grade. Promotions shall be based upon merit and fitness, to be ascertained by competitive examinations to be provided by the civil service commission, and upon the superior qualifications of the persons promoted, as shown by their previous service and experience: Provided, That, except for chief deputy or jailer, no person shall be eligible for promotion from the lower grade to the next higher grade until such person shall have completed at least two years' service in the next lower grade: Provided, however, That notwithstanding the provisions of §7-14-1 of this code, any person occupying the office of chief deputy or any deputy sheriff occupying the office of jailer pursuant to the provisions of §7-8-2 of this code in any such county on the effective date of this article, or thereafter appointed to such office, shall, except as hereinafter provided in this section, be and shall continue to be entitled …