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West Virginia Legislature

2nd Session of the 86th Legislature

Commission on Special Investigations

Joint Committee on Government & Finance

Investigating Public Corruption & Other Matters of the State

Originally created during the Second Extraordinary Session of the Legislature, September 1968, as the Purchasing Practices and Procedures Commission, and continued as a statutory body during the 1971 Regular Session, the Commission consists of five members of the Senate to be appointed by the President and five members of the House of Delegates to be appointed by the Speaker; headed by co-chairs, one for the Senate and one for the House, presently the President and Speaker; members shall receive travel, interim and out-of-state expenses and shall employ legal, technical, investigative, clerical, stenographic, advisory and other personnel it deems needed; authority of the Commission was expanded during the 1980 Regular Session, to include any investigations involving possible malfeasance or misfeasance of matters of the state and its name was changed to the Commission on Special Investigations (CSI).

Misson

In accordance with West Virginia Code, Chapter 4, Article 5, et. seq., it shall be the mission of the Commission on Special Investigations to:

  • Conduct comprehensive and detailed investigations into the purchasing practices and procedures of the state;
  • Determine if there is reason to believe that the laws or public policy of the state in connection with purchasing practices and procedures have been violated or are inadequate;
  • Determine if any criminal or civil statutes relating to the purchasing practices and procedures in this state are necessary to protect and control the expenditures of money by the state;
  • Investigate or examine any matter involving conflicts of interest, bribery of state officials, malfeasance, misfeasance or nonfeasance in office by any employee or officer of the state;
  • Conduct comprehensive and detailed investigations to determine if any criminal or civil statutes have been violated at any level of state government;
  • Determine whether to recommend criminal prosecution or civil action for any violation, either criminal or civil, at any level of state government and, if it is determined that action is necessary, to make appropriate recommendation to the attorney general, prosecuting attorney or other authority empowered to act on such recommendation; and
  • Make such written reports to the members of the Legislature between sessions thereof as the commission may deem advisable and on the first day of each regular session of the Legislature make an annual report to the Legislature containing the commission’s findings and recommendations including in such report drafts of any proposed legislation which it deems necessary to carry such recommendations into effect.
Reports