The Education Committee met this afternoon.
Markup & Passage
House Bill 2548 clarifies the state superintended regarding rule implementation at the state and county level.
House Bill 2755 allows the Board of Education to submit all legislative rules to LOCEA and the Legislative for review, approval, amendment, or rejection.
House Bill 2773 approves rules proposed by the Higher Education Policy Commission regarding the Accountability System and the Underwood-Smith Teaching Scholars and Teacher Loan Repayment Program. The bill also authorizes a rule proposed by the Council for Community and Technical College Education regarding Employing and Evaluating Presidents.
House Bill 3024 provides for the creation of a comprehensive system for the transfer of credits between state public higher education institutions.
House Bill 3150 streamlines the requirements for the Medical Student Loan Program and the Health Sciences and Mental Health Provider loan repayment programs.
House Bill 3192 repeals obsolete, conflicting, and duplicative higher education provisions of code.
Committee Hearing
House Bill 2003 prohibits students from having cell phones in the classroom. The bill requires the state board of education to create rules to implement the prohibition. Exceptions are made for students who need cell phones for ADA, IEPS, or any medical needs. The state board will set guidelines for counties as a baseline for their cell phone policies.
House Bill 2760 establishes a partnership between Workforce West Virginia and the West Virginia Board of Education for the implementation of a STEM-based program, teaching chemistry concepts related to careers in the education system, at high schools and technical schools. This begins the first two years in just ten schools then after the first two years will open up to all high school students in the state.
House Bill 2897 requires the Legislative Auditor to conduct a performance of the WV Department of Education. It gives the Legislative Auditor the power and authority to conduct examinations and inspections. The bill requires the legislative auditor to protect the confidentiality, privacy, and security of protected information.
House Bill 3099 allows law enforcement to issue a citation when students are caught using nicotine products on school grounds.
House Bill 3125 allows teachers with 10 consecutive years teaching in the state of West Virginia, in good standing to apply for and receive a permanent teaching certificate in West Virginia without having to take any additional course work.
House Bill 3166 requires each county board of education to establish standardized school safety mapping data before September 1, 2025. The bill requires the school safety mapping data be provided to the state board of education, Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, and local first response agencies.Â
House Bill 2499 was laid over until the next meeting.
