The Education Committee met this afternoon.

Markup & Passage

House Bill 2355 allows middle and high school students to participate in travel sports teams without repercussion. The bill requires the athletes to give school program preference when a scheduling conflict arises.

House Bill 2737 establishes the Higher Education Health and Aid Grant to address food, health, and hygiene insecurities among students enrolled in public institutions of higher education and appropriates $450,000 per calendar year.

House Bill 3387 provides for the creation of a regional school district pilot program of up to three contiguous counties to address shared issues.

Committee Hearings

House Bill 2528 authorizes any private, parochial, church, religious, or other nonpublic school to participate in county tournaments as long as they have played against two public schools held at the end of the basketball season, except for invitational tournaments.

House Bill 2651 makes general and special supervisors or directors of instruction serve at the will and pleasure of the county board of education.

House Bill 2973 clarifies that legal action involving the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission (WVSSAC) shall be filed in the Kanawha County Circuit after a 30-day notice is provided to the WVSSAC, the State School Board, and the Attorney General.

Senate Bill 275 removes the requirement for cooks and custodians 21 years or older to have a high school diploma or equivalent as a condition of employment by a county board of education.

Senate Bill 280 requires “In God We Trust” to be displayed in every public elementary school, secondary school, and state higher education institution.

Senate Bill 282 allows a person receiving retirement benefits under the Teachers Retirement System to accept employment as a critical needs substitute teacher and work over the 140 day limit.

Senate Bill 650 provides a full-time interventionist hired and assigned to up to two classrooms to satisfy the early childhood assistant teacher, aide, or paraprofessional-related requirements for kindergarten through third grades for both classrooms. The bills clarifies a part-time interventionist only covers one classroom. 

The Senate passed a bill on Thursday that aimed at enhancing security on public school grounds by establishing the West Virginia Guardian Program.

Senate Bill 450 would address growing concerns over school safety by allowing the hiring of retired law enforcement and safety officials, know as”West Virginia guardians,” to provide security services in public schools.

Key provisions of the legislation include the eligibility criteria for guardians, who must be former state troopers, deputy sheriffs, state fire marshals, Department of Natural Resources police officers, municipal police officers, or federal law enforcement officers.

These individuals would be tasked with ensuring the safety of students, faculty, and staff from potential threats, including violence and weapons on school premises. The bill specifies that county boards can contract as many guardians as deemed necessary, with the participation being voluntary and contingent on available county funds.

Under the legislation, guardians would be required to apply for a permit from the county sheriff, who will verify that applicants meet specific qualifications. Additionally, the bill would outline civil and criminal liability protections for guardians and exempt their contracts from certain purchasing requirements, streamlining the process for schools to enhance security measures.

The bill passed the Senate unanimously and now heads to the House of Delegates for consideration.

The Senate is adjourned until tomorrow, March 21, at 10 a.m.

Afternoon Meetings:

Health at 1 p.m. in 451M

Economic Development at 1 p.m. in 208W

Finance at 3 p.m. in 451M

Judiciary at 3 p.m. in 208W

Twelve bills passed out of the House this morning, including:

House Bill 2451 allows business owners to conduct home-based businesses on their residential property if it is a no-impact business. No-impact businesses do not need on-street parking or substantially increase traffic in a residential area and are not visible from the street. The sale of goods or services must be lawful and on-site employees/clients cannot exceed the municipal occupancy capacity. The bill does not allow municipalities to require permitting or licensing on the no-impact home-based business, but foes allow for the creation of reasonable regulations.

House Bill 2548 clarifies that the State Superintendent shall report annually to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability regarding implementing state board rules in each county school district. If a county school board violates the implementation of rules, the State Superintendent will provide an implementation plan. If the county continues to violate the rules, school aid funding can be withheld.

House Bill 2755 requires the State Board of Education to submit all legislative rules for authorization by the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability and submission to the Legislature for its review and approval, amendment, or rejection.

House Bill 3024 allows for the creation of a comprehensive system for the transfer of credits between the state’s public higher education institutions.

House Bill 2056 grants the Governor authority to establish concurrent jurisdiction over the land but requires the following procedures: (1) a written request of concurrent jurisdiction by the authorized agent of the United States; (2) written acceptance by the Governor; and (3) recording of the request and acceptance by the Governor with the Secretary of State. It also authorizes any state or local agency to enter into an agreement with the United States to coordinate the responsibilities of concurrency. Additionally, the bill grants concurrent jurisdiction to West Virginia courts over instances where juveniles are alleged to have violated federal law while on United States military installations located within West Virginia’s boundaries. The conditions for the grant of jurisdiction require the federal court to waive exclusive jurisdiction over the matter, and that the alleged violation of federal law must also be a crime under state law.

House Bill 2393 requires the Mountaineer Trail Network Authority to report annually to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance on the progress they’ve made towards the goals, grants requested and received, and progress made on other projects within the trail networks throughout the state.

House Bill 2397 prevents immediate family members from acting in a fiduciary capacity for the same governmental authority. The bill attempts to remedy conflicts of interest relating to familial relationships when a sheriff needs to make payments from the county treasury.

House Bill 3089 mandates the use of West Virginia’s Electronic Lien and Title system for all entities that record more than five liens per year.

House Bill 3190 allows for a charge of public intoxication when someone is under the influence of a controlled substance.

Resolutions introduced today can be found here.

The House is adjourned until 10 a.m. tomorrow, March 21, 2025.

Committee Meetings, Today March 20

• The Finance Committee will meet at 1 p.m. in Room 460.
• The Committee on Education will meet at 1 p.m. in Room 432M.
• The Subcommittee on Energy and Public Works will meet at 3 p.m. in Room 460.
• The Committee on Health and Human Resources will meet at 3 p.m. in Room 215E.

Committee Meetings, tomorrow March 21

• The Finance Committee will meet at 9 a.m. in Room 460.
• The Judiciary Committee will meet at 9 a.m. in Room 410.
• The Rules Committee will meet at 9:45 a.m. in Room 215E.
• The Committee on Government Organization will meet at 1 p.m. in Room 215E.

The Senate passed a bill on Wednesday that seeks to address ongoing concerns about transparency and accountability within West Virginia’s foster care system.

Senate Bill 83 would enhance the oversight of child welfare by granting the Foster Care Ombudsman access to confidential records related to child abuse, neglect, and fatalities.

The legislation amends existing confidentiality laws, allowing the Foster Care Ombudsman, or their designee, to access critical information while performing their official duties. This change is particularly significant in cases involving child fatalities or near fatalities, where timely access to records can be crucial for investigations and systemic improvements.

Currently, the confidentiality of child welfare records often limit the ability of oversight bodies to fully understand and address the circumstances surrounding these tragic events.

Supporters of the bill, which passed the Senate unanimously, argued that it will empower the Ombudsman to better advocate for children in the foster care system and ensure that cases of abuse and neglect are thoroughly vetted. They emphasize that increased access to information will lead to more informed recommendations for policy changes and improvements in child welfare practices.

The bill now heads to the House of Delegates for consideration.

The Senate is adjourned until tomorrow, March 20, at 11 a.m.

Afternoon Meetings:

Natural Resources at 1 p.m. in 208W

Agriculture at 2 p.m. in 208W

Banking and Insurance at 2 p.m. in 451M

Judiciary at 3 p.m. in 208W

Finance at 3 p.m. in 451M

Morning Meetings for Thursday, March 20:

Education at 9:30 a.m. in 451M

Gov. Org at 9:30 a.m. in 208W

The Finance Committee met this morning and this afternoon to hear about the following bills.

Committee Hearing

House Bill 2015 extends indefinitely the moratorium on new BRIM coverage for entities with permissive coverage.

House Bill 2162 repeals the tax exemption for credit unions.

House Bill 2889 authorizes the Commissioner of the State Auditor of West Virginia to conduct fairness hearings for transactions involving the exchange of a security for one or more outstanding securities, claims, or property interests or partly for cash, to determine whether the terms and conditions of the exchange are fair to the security holders.

The Committee recessed until after the Banking and Insurance Subcommittee.

House Bill 3111 provides pay increases to members of the judiciary including the Supreme Court, circuit courts, family courts, magistrates, and the Intermediate Court.

House Bill 3092 allows patients to use the copay covered by the manufacturer’s copay cards to be applied to the deductible.

House Bill 3492 authorizes the City of Huntington to levy a special district excise tax for the benefit of the City of Huntington Economic Opportunity Development District.

House Bill 2978 transfers the powers and duties of the Municipal Bond Commission to the State Treasurer.

The House Rules Committee advanced House Concurrent Resolutions 46, 47, 50, 54, 56, 60, 61, 62, 63, 67, 68, 69, 71, 79 and 83 to the full house.

Additionally, the committee reviewed House Bill 2043, which was split into two bills. The new version of House Bill 2043 allows drones to be used to track wounded wildlife. The bill also amends the section of code that only allows one dog per dog handler when using dogs to track wounded animals. If the UAV/drone operator does not own or lease the property, they must be licensed.

The originating House Bill adds licensed livestock facilities, licensed livestock slaughter facilities, and commercial poultry facilities to the definition of critical infrastructure facilities and to the section of code relating to trespassing on and causing damage to critical infrastructure.

Both bills advance to the full House.

The House Health and Human Resources Committee met this afternoon.

Committee Hearing

House Bill 2493 establishes the Sound Science in Regulations Act, which states that state agencies may not propose or effectuate a regulatory action unless those actions are based on the best available science.

House Bill 3343 adds crystalline polymorph psilocybin to the permitted list of distributed and prescribed drugs if scheduled or de-scheduled by the Food and Drug Administration.

House Bill 2410 permits access to individualized treatments for eligible patients.

House Bill 3344 establishes a grant program to fund the United States Food and Drug Administration’s drug development trials with ibogaine to secure the Administration’s approval as a medication for the treatment of PTSD, opioid use disorder, co-occurring substance use disorder, and any other neurological or mental health conditions.

House Bill 2378 requires syringe exchange services programs to be operated in affiliation with a local health department. The bill will eliminate a third of the programs in the state. Currently, there are only 10 exchange programs in the state and three would have to close.

Markup & Passage

House Bill 3277 defines the term “Secretary” in the West Virginia Hospital Finance Authority Act. This was missed in the code when splitting the Department of Health and Human Resources into the three agencies.

The Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 460 allows physicians, physician’s assistants, or nurse practitioners to exempt a child from immunizations if they deem the specific immunizations to be detrimental to the child’s health or are not appropriate by providing a written statement to the school or childcare provider. The bill provides protection against disciplinary boards and administrative and criminal penalties related to the letter. The bill provides that no school or state-regulated childcare center shall prohibit an individual from exercising an exemption from participating in extracurricular activities or attending school-based events. An amendment was adopted that if the practitioner is acting in good faith will be immune from civil liability. However, if the provider acts with gross negligence or willful misconduct, a civil action may be brought Another amendment was adopted to require practitioners to report the exemption provided.

Several amendments were offered and rejected, including limiting the medical professionals to West Virginia Board Certified Pediatricians and Family Care Physicians. Another amendment was rejected that would have required schools to report how many children who are exempt from vaccination are in attendance. No personally identifiable information would be provided.

The Committee Substitute was adopted and passed by the committee.

The House Education met this afternoon. Here is some of the legislation considered.

Markup & Passage

House Bill 2394, Alyssa’s law, requires the State Board of Education to work with the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management to implement a wearable panic alert system. The bill requires county boards to ensure school personnel receive training on the protocol and appropriate use of the device.

House Bill 2499 creates an in-person training course for principals in public schools on the relating to the Individuals with Disability Education Act.

House Bill 2939 creates the Remote Schools Support Act. The bill defines an extreme remote school as a school located 20 or more miles from an existing public school, public charter school, or private school serving at least 20 students. The bill provides extremely remote schools to receive additional aid to keep the school open. The bill states no county board may close an extremely remote school.

House Bill 3295 establishes the Troops-to-Teachers program.

Committee Hearing

House Bill 2646 allows students to attend summer school between 8th and 9th grades in attempt to raise GPA to gain eligibility for extracurricular activities.

House Bill 2879, West Virginia Math, Science, and Special Education Teacher Scholarship Act, provides $2,000 to existing teachers who serve in a qualified position two years or $4,000 for six years. Teachers must be certified teachers with specialized in mathematics, science, or special education. The program would begin on January 1, 2026, and sunset on January 1, 2036.

House Bill 2610 provides a waiver of tuition and fees at state institutions of higher education and community and technical colleges for military veterans who has service-related disability of 50 percent or greater. The bill also expands to include their spouses and dependents.

The Senate passed a bill on Tuesday that would create the Safety and Violence Education for Students Act.

Senate Bill 548 is aimed at enhancing student safety and promoting social inclusion in schools across the state. The bill mandates that all schools serving grades K-12 provide students with evidence-based training in youth violence prevention and social inclusion.

The primary objective of the legislation is to equip students with the skills necessary to recognize and respond to potential threats of violence and social isolation.

Specifically, the bill would require schools serving grades 6-12 to deliver at least one hour of youth violence prevention training annually. This training would cover critical topics such as identifying warning signs of individuals at risk of harming themselves or others, the importance of taking threats seriously, and the appropriate steps to report dangerous behavior.

In addition, the bill mandates that all K-12 schools provide at least one hour of social inclusion training each year. This training aims to educate students about social isolation, its implications, and strategies to foster a sense of togetherness within their classrooms and communities.

If the bill completes legislative action, the state Department of Education would be tasked with developing a list of evidence-based training programs and materials to support these initiatives, ensuring that schools have access to effective resources. The legislation also allows for the establishment of student-led violence prevention clubs, further encouraging student engagement in safety initiatives.

Supporters of the bill praise its proactive approach to addressing youth violence and social isolation, while critics have raised concerns about the potential costs associated with implementing these training programs, particularly in underfunded schools.

The legislation passed on a 26-8 vote.

The bill now heads to the House of Delegates for consideration.

The Senate has adjourned until Wednesday, March 19, at 11 a.m.

Afternoon Meetings:

Health at 1 p.m. in 451M

Finance at 3 p.m. in 451M

Judiciary at 3 p.m. in 208W

Morning Meetings for March 19:

Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health at 9:30 a.m. in 451M