The Joint Finance Committee met this afternoon for its interim meeting. First, the committee heard an update from the Department of Revenue. October general revenue collections are $15 million below estimates. The General Revenue is $13.8 million under FY 2024-2025 estimates. October State Road Fund collections are about $14.7 above estimates, due to federal reimbursements. The State Road Fund is $20.2 million under FY 2024-2025 estimates.

The Committee received an update on the Coal Worker’s Pneumoconiosis Fund. The CWP has a surplus of $38.7 million. While the fund closed in 2005, the Office of the Insurance Commissioner receives yearly claims. In FY23, 336 claims were assigned. In FY24, 286 claims were assigned. Claim assignment does not mean the claim meets the requirements to receive funds from CWP. Some do: others receive funds from the federal Black Lung Program.

The Tourism Department presented an update. In 2023, the state had 75 million visitors, which led to an $8.7 billion in economic impact in all 9 travel regions and all 55 counties. The tourism industry has produced over $1 billion in tax revenue. The direct spending impact is $6.3 billion annually. Daily visitor spending totals $17 million. Currently, there are 60,000 tourism jobs in the state, which receive $2.1 billion in income.

The Tourism Department has worked to bring in private investment, such as the rail explorers in Clay County, Oglebay improvements, and renovations to Shepherdstown Opera House. Through the Waterfall Trail and Paranormal Trail, the Department increased traffic throughout the state. State Parks continue to play an important role in tourism.

The Department wants to continue to invest in the tourism and hospitality workforce. It has partnered with the Department of Education to create a tourism curriculum in all 55 counties, which has 13,000 students K-12 enrolled. Two hundred teachers received training about tourism opportunities. The Department of Tourism offers free online hospitality and tourism courses. The Governor’s School for Tourism was hosted over the summer. It was a twelve-day road trip for students, beginning at Independence Hall. The group then traveled to each of the 9 travel regions. By doing this, students could see tourism careers in the state.

The Department Continues to change the perception of West Virginia through public relations. The state has been featured in several travel magazines including National Geographic, TIME, and Southern Living.

The committee also received an update on the Cyber Security Program at Marshall University. Marshall will have the second-largest Institute for Cyber Security in the county. The Institute is a collaboration of Marshall University, West Virginia University, and West Virginia State University. The Institute will be part of an Innovation District, which will connect Marshall to downtown Huntington. The building will have five floors and the higher-level floors will require more security clearance to access. The building will have academic spaces, Department of Defense spaces, and private, public, retail, and event spaces. The Security Operation Center will be a working lab for students. They will work next to DOD employees.

Construction is progressing. The project is in the design development phase and demolition is about to start. The project has spent $2.9 million on site development, design, and architecture fees.

The National Center of Excellence for Cyber Security in Critical Infrastructure is a government, academic, and industry partnership. Initial partners include the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Defense, State of West Virginia, West Virginia National Guard, Palo Alto, Oxford, and many others. The Center’s pillars are to engage the future workforce, increase cyber and technology applied research and innovation, expand cyber and technology-focused analytic partnerships, enrich strategic cyber and technology dialogue, and educate current workforces.

The final presentation for the committee was from WVU Cancer Institute about its quest for a National Cancer Institute (NCI) Designation. An NCI designation is a grant which would be renewed every five years. NCI-Designated Cancer Centers have nationally recognized cancer scientists, NCI and NIH-funded research, practice-changing clinical trials, are a pipeline for training and workforce development, and can impact and lessen the cancer burden.

There are about 75 NCI Centers in the United States. WV is one of 13 states that do not have an NCI Center. WVU is seeking an NCI designation to help diagnose patients earlier and provide instate treatment so patients can get care closer to home and return to work sooner. This can also reduce healthcare costs for patients.

An NCI designation can attract and retain top talent in the field. Its programs can create a pipeline of providers and researchers through cancer training programs. A higher quality of care will be available to patients. New jobs will be created. Start-up companies could be formed, and new industry partnerships could develop through cancer research.

To become an NCI Cancer Center, WVU Cancer Institute is expanding its clinical services, as WVU Health System has expanded across the state. WVU Cancer Institute is also completing research, as it has a specimen repository to study the cancers of the state. The achievement of the designation could take five to ten years. Through appropriated money, the WVU Cancer Institute plans to expand research for informed clinical practice.

On Sunday, the Legislative Oversight Committee on Education Accountability (LOCEA) met to review the annual school facility safety and security measures report. Several schools need the mantrap entrance systems. Only half of schools in the state have weapon detection. Improvements have been made but more are needed.

In the Joint Committee on Education, the Committee heard a presentation on the issues facing school social workers. In 2023, school social workers formed the West Virginia School Social Worker Association (WVSSWA) due to a lack of consistency and educational requirements in the job definition.

In WV, the ratio of school social workers to students is 1 to 15,433. Significantly higher than surrounding states, KY has 3,400 students to 1 school social worker; VA has 2,067 students to 1 school social worker; PA has 3,416 students to 1 school social worker; MD has 2,324 students to 1 school social worker; and OH has 4,855 students to 1 school social worker.

The data on how many school social workers are in West Virginia varies due to inconsistent definitions. WVSSWAA has 40 members. A report on school social workers showed only 25 self-reported school social workers and only 18 in a state-by-state analysis. The data is off because of different job titles, inconsistencies in certifications across states, and a lack of enforcement of school social work certification requirements.

School social workers have varied roles and titles, including assistance attendance director, homeless liaison, truancy diversion specialist, and preschool enrollment coordinator. School social workers have a variety of tasks. Some of those tasks include participating in and assisting with special education plans, preparing social history on students, creating behavior plans, crisis intervention, assisting and referring families to community resources, providing counseling, completing safety and threat assessments, home visits, liaison to CPS, case coordinating, drug court committee, school duties (lunch, pickup and drop off) and educate staff on the cultural, social, and financial situation of the student body.

The WVSSWA is developing a WV school social work best practice guide and continuing education for members. They provide guidance on difficult cases and collaboration with school districts and organizations, as well as the School Social Workers Association of America.

The WVSSWA policy requests are for uniform certification and credentialing requirements for all schools in the state, title protection/definition of what a school social worker is, and funding for school social workers.

A presentation was provided about High Rocks, a grassroots community nonprofit that works to educate, empower, and inspire young West Virginians. The organization has programs for individuals aged 12 to 29. Programs include High Rocks Academy, The Hub Community Café, Tech Express, AmeriCorps, First2 Network, and WV Jobs Networks. For a stronger workforce, businesses must consider job fit finances, and skills/academics needed.

High Rocks’ policy requests are for WV AmeriCorps tuition waiver, second change promise scholarship, confirmation of the appointees to the secondary post attainment council, and a definition of first-generation status.

Finally, Motorola Solutions spoke to the committee on safety and security products. The company has an app for IOS and Android, which has an emergency panic button for active shooter, fire, etc. It provides emergency notification and incident action plans. The app is integrated with command and 9-1-1 centers for increased operational efficiency with instant communication and improved response times. In addition to the app, the company has cameras that can identify suspicious individuals and vehicles and weapon detection.

At 4 p.m. in the Culture Center, the Joint Committee on Education and the Joint Committee on Government Organization will be meeting for a Fire Detection / School Safety Presentation and Demonstration.