Panel approves amended bill allowing counties discretion to raise deputy sheriffs' vacation carryover

The Senate Committee on Government Organization adopted an amendment and voted to report House Bill 55-64 to the full Senate with a recommendation that it pass as amended. Counsel explained the bill would increase the amount of vacation time a deputy sheriff may carry forward from 30 days to 60 days, aligning deputy sheriffs with state police carryover rules.

Counsel also reported a fiscal note provided by the County Commissioners Association of West Virginia estimating an average cost to responding counties in 2026 of $2,205,000; counsel said it was not clear from the note whether that figure was aggregated or a per‑county estimate. The junior senator offered an amendment to leave the 30‑day baseline in code and permit counties at their discretion to allow carryover above 30 days up to 60; counsel said language could be drafted to reflect county discretion, and the amendment was adopted by voice vote.

After adoption of the amendment the vice chair moved that the bill be reported as amended with a recommendation that it pass; the chair declared the motion adopted. The committee also noted the final bill on the agenda (House Bill 53-68) was pulled for consideration at a later time.