Whenever it may be necessary, the clerk of the Senate may appoint one assistant, and the clerk of the House of Delegates not exceeding three assistants, and such clerks may from time to time remove any assistant from office and appoint another in his stead. Every such assistant, during his continuance in office, may discharge any of the official duties of his principal. And it shall be the duty of every committee clerk in each house, when not engaged in the actual discharge of his duties as such, to assist the clerk of either house in the discharge of any of his duties, whenever called upon by such clerk to do so.
W. Va. Code § 4-1-9