West Virginia Code
Article 15. Fire Fighting; Fire Companies and Departments; Civil Service for Paid Fire Departments
§8-15-24. Political Activities of Members Prohibited; Exceptions

(a) No member of any paid fire department may:
(1) Solicit any assessment, subscription or contribution for any political party, committee or candidate from any person who is a member or employee of the same fire department by which they are employed;
(2) Use any official authority or influence, including, but not limited to, the wearing by a member of a paid fire department of his or her uniform, for the purpose of interfering with or affecting the nomination, election or defeat of any candidate or the passage or defeat of any ballot issue: Provided, That this subdivision shall not be construed to prohibit any member of a paid fire department from casting his or her vote at any election while wearing his or her uniform;
(3) Coerce or command anyone to pay, lend or contribute anything of value to a party, committee, organization, agency or person for the nomination, election or defeat of a ballot issue; or
(4) Be a candidate for or hold any other public office in the municipality in which he or she is employed: Provided, That any paid member of a fire department that is subject to the provisions of 15 U.S.C. §1501 et seq., may not be a candidate for elective office.
(b) Other types of partisan or nonpartisan political activities not inconsistent with the provisions of subsection (a) of this section are permissible political activities for members of paid fire departments.
(c) No person shall be appointed or promoted to or demoted or dismissed from any position in a paid fire department or in any way favored or discriminated against because of his or her engagement in any political activities authorized by the provisions of this section. Any elected or appointed official who violates the provisions of this subsection shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by the penalties contained in section twenty-six, article fifteen, chapter eight of this code.

Structure West Virginia Code

West Virginia Code

Chapter 8. Municipal Corporations

Article 15. Fire Fighting; Fire Companies and Departments; Civil Service for Paid Fire Departments

§8-15-1. Power and Authority of Governing Body With Respect to Fires

§8-15-2. Liability for Property Pulled Down or Destroyed to Prevent Spread of Fire

§8-15-3. Municipalities Empowered and Authorized to Contract for Prevention and Extinguishment of Fires Beyond the Corporate Limits

§8-15-4. Power and Authority to Form Fire Companies; Recordation of Statement; Organization

§8-15-5. Duties of Company Members; Meetings to Inspect Equipment; Report; Penalty for Noncompliance

§8-15-6. Dissolution of Volunteer Fire Company

§8-15-7. Incorporation of Volunteer Fire Companies; Duties and Obligations; Dissolution

§8-15-7a. Audit or Financial Examination of Volunteer Fire Companies

§8-15-8. Support of Volunteer Fire Company; Return of Property Upon Dissolution

§8-15-8a. Eligibility for Allocation From Municipal Pensions and Protection Fund and the Fire Protection Fund

§8-15-8b. Authorized Expenditures of Revenues From the Municipal Pensions and Protection Fund and the Fire Protection Fund; Deductions for Unauthorized Expenditures; Record Retention

§8-15-8c. Donation of Equipment

§8-15-9. Establishment and Maintenance of Paid Fire Department

§8-15-10. Hours of Duty for Firemen in a Paid Fire Department

§8-15-10a. Firemen Who Are Required to Work During Holidays; How Compensated

§8-15-10b. Mandatory Safety Procedures for Situations Deemed Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health

§8-15-11. Qualifications for Appointment or Promotion to Positions in Paid Fire Departments to Be Ascertained by Examination; Provisions Exclusive as to Appointments, etc.; Rights of Certain Chiefs; &Quot;appointing Officer" Defined

§8-15-12. Firemen's Civil Service Commission Generally

§8-15-13. Recorder Ex Officio Clerk of Commission; Clerical and Stenographic Services

§8-15-14. Rooms, Stationery, etc., to Be Furnished by Municipality; Appropriations Required

§8-15-15. Powers, Authority and Duties of Firemen's Civil Service Commission

§8-15-16. Rules for All Examinations; Probationary Appointments

§8-15-16a. Apprenticeship Programs

§8-15-17. Form of Application; Age and Residency Requirements; Exceptions

§8-15-18. Character and Notice of Competitive Examinations; Qualifications of Applicants; Press Representatives; Posting Eligible List; Medical Examinations

§8-15-18a. Individual Review of Test and Answers From Promotional Examination

§8-15-19. Refusal to Examine or Certify; Review Thereof

§8-15-20. Appointments From List of Eligible Applicants; Special Examinations for Electricians or Mechanics

§8-15-20a. Special Examination for Firefighter Paramedic

§8-15-21. Noncompetitive Examination for Filling Vacancy; Provisional Appointment

§8-15-22. Vacancies Filled by Promotions; Eligibility for Promotion

§8-15-23. No Inquiry Shall Be Made Concerning Political or Religious Opinions or Affiliations of Applicants, etc.

§8-15-24. Political Activities of Members Prohibited; Exceptions

§8-15-25. Removal, Discharge, Suspension or Reduction in Rank or Pay; Hearing; Attorney Fees; Appeal; Reduction in Number of Members

§8-15-26. Offenses and Penalties

§8-15-27. Repeal of Conflicting Acts and Provisions; Civil Service Provisions of Article Exclusive; Status or Tenure Not Affected