WV Ethics Commission tightens legislative rules on nepotism in government jobs

The West Virginia Ethics Commission voted to change the rules about nepotism in the hiring process for government jobs with the goal of tightening up the existing law.

It will be up to the West Virginia Legislature whether the commission’s recommendation becomes law during the 2022 session.

The committee adopted the rule during a teleconference meeting Thursday morning.

Commissioners reviewed the legislative rules regarding nepotism per a state law that has sunset provisions for existing rules, meaning the rules have to be reviewed and reapproved every five years. The Legislature last considered the nepotism law in 2017.

The existing rule provides that any public official or employee involved in making decisions that affect the employment of a relative or someone they live with should remove themselves from the decision-making process “to the extent possible,” Theresa Kirk, general counsel to the commission, said during the meeting.

Read more: https://www.wvgazettemail.com/news/wv-ethics-commission-tightens-legislative-rules-on-nepotism-in-government-jobs/article_cff9dd46-5768-53ad-8f9b-af944c91dd95.html