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HB4020 • 2026
Removing Full Time Requirement for Health Officers
Removing Full Time Requirement for Health Officers
Passed Legislature
This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.
Bill History
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2026-01-15
H
To House Health and Human Resources
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2026-01-15
H
Introduced in House
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2026-01-15
H
To Health and Human Resources
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2026-01-15
H
Filed for introduction
Official Summary Text
Removing Full Time Requirement for Health Officers
Current Bill Text
Read the full stored bill text
HB 4020 Text skip navigation SENATE PRESIDENT SENATORS COMMITTEES VIDEO/AUDIO DISTRICT MAPS SENATE CLERK SENATE RULES HOUSE SPEAKER DELEGATES COMMITTEES VIDEO/AUDIO DISTRICT MAPS HOUSE CLERK HOUSE RULES HOUSE STAFF JOINT INTERIM COMMITTEES LEGISLATIVE ADMINISTRATOR LEGISLATIVE SERVICES DIVISION PUBLIC INFORMATION LEGISLATIVE AUTOMATED SYSTEMS DIVISION LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR'S OFFICE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION & RESEARCH DIVISION POST AUDIT DIVISION BUDGET DIVISION REGULATORY AND FISCAL AFFAIRS DIVISION CLAIMS COMMISSION CRIME VICTIMS RULE-MAKING REVIEW SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS JUDICIAL COMP. COMMISSION JOINT RULES STAFF INFO BILL STATUS BILL STATUS BILL TRACKING STATE LAW WEST VIRGINIA CODE ACTS OF THE LEGISLATURE CODE OF 1931 WV CONSTITUTION US CONSTITUTION REPORTS AGENCY REPORTS AGENCY GRANT AWARDS PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS POST AUDITS EDUCATIONAL CITIZEN’S GUIDE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM PAGE PROGRAM PUBLICATIONS PHOTO GALLERY CAPITOL HISTORY HOW A BILL BECOMES LAW CONTACT SENATE ROSTER HOUSE ROSTER PUBLIC INFO. NEWS RELEASES HELPFUL LINKS Introduced Version House Bill 4020 History | Email Key: Green = existing Code. Red = new code to be enacted WEST virginia legislature 2026 regular session Introduced House Bill 4020 By Delegates Hanshaw (Mr. Speaker) and Hornbuckle [By Request of the Executive] [ Introduced January 15, 2026; referred to the Committee on Health and Human Resources ] A BILL to amend and reenact §16-1-5 and §16-5P-4 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to modifying the qualifications for the State Health Officer, Commissioner of the Bureau for Public Health, and the Commissioner of the Bureau of Senior Services. Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia: ARTICLE 1. STate public health system. §16-1-5. State health officer; Commissioner of the Bureau for Public Health; appointment; qualifications; term. The Commissioner of the Bureau for Public Health may be designated the state health officer. The commissioner and the state health officer shall be appointed by the secretary. The commissioner shall be a person holding a doctorate degree with five years’ experience in public health administration unless designated the state health officer. The state health officer shall be licensed under the laws of this state to practice medicine. The commissioner and the state health officer serve at the will and pleasure of the secretary and shall not be actively engaged or employed in any other business, vocation, or employment, serving full-time in the duties of the office as prescribed by this article may not engage in any other business, occupation, or employment inconsistent with the expeditious, proper and complete performance of his or her duties . ARTICLE 5P. SENIOR SERVICES. §16-5P-4. Appointment of commissioner; term of office; reporting; qualifications; oath. (a) There is hereby established the Bureau of Senior Services. As of the effective date of this article, all references to the commission on aging shall be construed to mean the Bureau of Senior Services. (b) The bureau shall be under the supervision of a commissioner of the Bureau of Senior Services. The commissioner shall be appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, and shall hold office subject to the will and pleasure of the Governor. The commissioner shall be selected with consideration to training and experience in senior issues. (c) The commissioner shall devote his or her entire time to the duties of his or her office, and may not engage in any other business, occupation, or employment inconsistent with the expeditious, proper, and complete performance of his or her duties and may not be a candidate for nor hold any other public office or trust nor be a member of a political committee. (d) The commissioner, before entering upon the duties of office, shall take and subscribe to the oath prescribed by article IV, section five of the state Constitution. The oath shall be filed with the Secretary of State. (e) The commissioner shall report directly to the Governor or the Governor's designee. NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to modify the qualifications for State Health Officer, Commissioner of the Bureau for Public Health, and the Commissioner of the Bureau of Senior Services to attract and retain high quality talent in these positions. Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added. Bill Status | Bill Tracking | Legacy WV Code | Bulletin Board | District Maps | Senate Roster | House Roster | Live | Blog | Jobs | Links | Home This Web site is maintained by the West Virginia Legislature's Office of Reference & Information. | Terms of Use | Webmaster | © 2026 West Virginia Legislature ** Print On Demand Name: Email: Phone: