2005 West Virginia Code - §15-5-3. — Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management created.

§15-5-3. Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management created.

(a) The Office of Emergency Services is continued as the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management within the Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety. All of the allied, advisory, affiliated or related entities and funds associated with the Office of Emergency Services and all its functions, personnel and property, are transferred to, incorporated in and administered as a part of the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. Wherever the words "Office of Emergency Services" appear in this code, they shall mean the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.
(b) A Director of the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management shall be appointed by the Governor, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. The Governor shall consider applicants for Director who at a minimum: (1) Have at least five years managerial or strategic planning experience; (2) are knowledgeable in matters relating to public safety, homeland security, emergency management and emergency response; and (3) have at a minimum, a federally issued secret level security clearance or have submitted to or will submit to a security clearance investigation for the purpose of obtaining, at a minimum, a federally issued secret level security clearance.
(c) The Director may employ such technical, clerical, stenographic and other personnel, fix their compensation and make expenditures within the appropriation to the Division or from other funds made available for the purpose of providing homeland security and emergency management services to carry out the purpose of this article. Employees of the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management shall be members of the State Civil Service System and all appointments of the office, except those required by law to be exempt, shall be a part of the classified service under the Civil Service System.
(d) The Director and other personnel of the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management shall be provided with appropriate office space, furniture, equipment, supplies, stationery and printing in the same manner as provided for personnel of other state agencies.
(e) The Director, subject to the direction and control of the Governor through the Secretary of the Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety, shall be executive head of the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management and shall be responsible to the Governor and the Secretary of the Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety for carrying out the program for homeland security and emergency management in this state. The Director in consultation with the Secretary of the Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety shall coordinate the activities of all organizations for homeland security and emergency management within the state and maintain liaison with and cooperate with homeland security, emergency management and other emergency service and civil defense agencies and organizations of other states and of the federal government, and shall have additional authority, duties and responsibilities authorized by this article as may be prescribed by the Governor or the Secretary of the Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety.
(f) The Director shall have the power to acquire in the name of the state by purchase, lease or gift, real property and rights or easements necessary or convenient to construct thereon the necessary building or buildings for housing and homeland security and emergency management control center.