(a) During a state of emergency or state of preparedness, set forth by the Governor, employees of public utilities, cable television operators, telecommunications carriers, and publicly or privately owned water and sewer systems shall be considered essential workers to ensure that these services can continue to operate or be restored.
(b) Contractors, vendors, and suppliers of public utilities, cable television operators, telecommunications carriers, and publicly or privately owned water and sewer systems of the state shall be considered essential workers to aid the utilities and telecommunications services in continuation of services to its customers.
(c) The provisions of subsections (a) and (b) of this section apply only and specifically for the purpose of ensuring that public utilities, cable television operators, telecommunications carriers, and publicly or privately owned water and sewer systems can continue to operate or be restored and may not be construed or interpreted in any way to have any relevance or meaning beyond this specific purpose.
Structure West Virginia Code
Article 5. Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management
§15-5-3. Division of Emergency Management Created
§15-5-4b. West Virginia Disaster Recovery Trust Fund Disbursement
§15-5-4c. Powers and Duties Related to the West Virginia Disaster Recovery Trust Fund
§15-5-5. General Powers of the Governor
§15-5-6. Emergency Powers of Governor
§15-5-6a. Temporary Suspension of Nutrition Standards in Public Schools
§15-5-8. Local Organization for Emergency Services
§15-5-9. Mutual Aid Agreements
§15-5-10. Regional Organizations for Emergency Services
§15-5-11. Immunity and Exemption; &Quot;duly Qualified Emergency Service Worker" Defined
§15-5-12. Liability to Sheltered Persons
§15-5-13. Appropriations; Acceptance of Services, Gifts, Grants, and Loans
§15-5-14. Political Activity of Emergency Service Organizations
§15-5-15. Emergency Service Personnel
§15-5-15a. Paid Leave for Disaster Service Volunteers
§15-5-15b. Paid Leave for Certain State Officers and Employees During a Declared State of Emergency
§15-5-16. Utilization of Existing Services and Facilities
§15-5-18. Arrest by Peace Officer Without Warrant
§15-5-19a. Possession of Firearms During a Declared State of Emergency
§15-5-20a. Floodplain Manager Training
§15-5-22. Emergency Management Assistance Compact
§15-5-23. Severability; Conflicts
§15-5-24. Disaster Recovery Trust Fund; Disbursement of Funds
§15-5-28. Statewide Mutual Aid System
§15-5-29. Cooperation With State Resiliency Office
§15-5-30. State of Emergency; State of Preparedness; Essential Workers