Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 52, December 27, 2024
Section 147-1-9 - Submission and Processing of Suggestion9.1. A completed suggestion should be submitted by the employee as soon as possible after it is documented, preferably before any attempt is made to implement it. All suggestions should be submitted to the Board.9.2. The Board shall forward all employee suggestions it receives to the appropriate department head, or heads, unless the suggestion is clearly ineligible. If the Board finds a suggestion is clearly ineligible it shall return it to the employee, including a statement describing why the suggestion is ineligible.9.3. The department head, upon receiving the suggestion, shall conduct a thorough and objective analysis of the suggestion and prepare an evaluation report. The department head shall evaluate each suggestion and submit the evaluation report to the Board within 60 days from the date of receipt of the suggestion.9.4. The report shall include an estimate of the savings that reasonably can be expected to result from implementing the employee suggestion for a fiscal year or twelve 12 consecutive months and a recommendation as to whether the Board should make an award. The department head shall also return the employee suggestion form to the Employee Suggestion Award Board.9.5. The Employee Suggestion Award Board shall examine the employee suggestion and review the evaluation report. The Board shall approve or disapprove all employee suggestions. For all denied suggestions, the Board shall include in the notification a full explanation of the reason or reasons for denial. 9.5.1. When the Board has acted on a suggestion and has either approved or denied it, the Board shall communicate with the department head and the employee who made the suggestion, advising of the Board's action.9.5.2. If the Board adopts the suggestion, it shall request the department head to, and the department head shall, implement the suggestion for one fiscal year or for 12 consecutive months. Thereafter the department head shall report as soon as possible to the Board on the results of the implementation, including whether there was a substantial savings or improvement in state government operations and the estimated savings, if any, resulting from the implementation. The Board shall review results of the implementation and decide whether or not it will make an award, and if the award is to be cash or honorary. If a cash award is made, the Board shall make the award as provided by W. Va. Code § 5A-1A-4.9.5.3. Notwithstanding any other provision of these rules, the Board may approve a suggestion that has not been processed in strict compliance with these rules if the Board is provided documentation:9.5.3.a. Establishing that the appropriate department head has reviewed and evaluated the suggestion;9.5.3.b. Adequately describing the suggestion; and9.5.3.c. Estimating the suggestion's potential savings.9.5.3.d. Notwithstanding subsection (b) of this section, if the agency implements the suggestion prior to its approval by the Board, the Board may make a cash award any time after the agency submits documentation to the Board establishing that the total cash savings resulting from the suggestion have been realized or that the cost savings have exceeded fifty thousand dollars during a period not exceeding twelve months from the date the suggestion was implemented.