Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary or any rule promulgated under the provisions of this code, the Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation may hire any person listed on the Correctional Officer I Register for employment as a Correctional Officer I without regard to the person's position on the register: Provided, That no person on the Correctional Officer I Register may be offered employment or hired before an otherwise qualified person on a preference register who is willing to accept the position.
W. Va. Code § 15A-3-6