The House Education Committee met this afternoon.
Markup & Passage
House Bill 2166 creates the Behavior Health Workforce Initiative within the Higher Education Policy Commission.
House Bill 2190 adds Potomac State College to the definition of community and technical college education program for participation in the “Learn and Earn Program.”
House Bill 2411 adds a computer science requirement for graduation for high school students in West Virginia.
House Bill 2614 allows the county board to pay a lump sum payment of up to $6,000 to an estate if the employee passes away while still employed.
Committee Hearing
House Bill 2576, the NIL Act, protects rights, responsibilities, authorities, and limitations relating to the name, image, and likeness of an individual who participates as a student-athlete in an institution of higher education. The bill puts guardrails in to protect institutions and students. Student-athletes can be compensated for the use of their name, image, or likeness. The bill does prohibit student-athletes from endorsing certain items.
Following the lead of other states to protect institutions, the bill allows contractional agreements between a nonprofit, which would be established, and students/agents/lawyers.
The bill advances to markup and discussion.
House Bill 2595, the Non-Profit Athletics Act, allows for higher education institutions to enter a contract with a private corporation for operational, economic, fiscal, and educational development activities. The Non-Profit would be controlled by a board with primarily administrative work and assist with students contracting with other businesses for sponsorships.
The Non-Profit will be similarly structured to the research corporations and to the Country Roads Trust. Currently, no appropriation from the state is planned to be used for the Non-Profit. Fees, donations from the foundation, and athletics will cover the cost of the Non-Profit.
The bill advances to markup and discussion.
