The Senate Workforce Committee met Monday afternoon, advancing two bills to the full Senate.
Senate Bill 1038 would provide a 15 percent across-the-board salary increase to certain administrative law judges employed by West Virginia’s Board of Review.
Administrative Law Judges act as both judge and jury as an independent official in the executive branch. They preside over formal hearings, resolving disputes between government agencies and individuals or entities, taking testimony, rule on evidence, and issue initial decisions.
Employees holding the positions of Administrative Law Judge 1 and Administrative Law Judge 2 would receive the pay adjustment.
The salary adjustment is intended to ensure that unemployment compensation hearings before Workforce West Virginia Board of Review are conducted in a timely manner.
The bill was reported to the Full Senate with a recommendation of passage first being sent to the committee on Finance.
Senate Bill 1053 would establish an Unemployment Automation and Administration Fund aimed at modernizing West Virginia’s unemployment compensation and workforce systems.
Seven percent of employer unemployment contributions would be redirected into the new fund beginning July 1, 2026.
The remaining portion of employer contributions would continue going into the Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund.
The bill was reported to the full Senate with a recommendation of passage first being sent to the committee on Finance.
Following, the body was presented with a presentation from Rebecca J. Gillman, who serves as the Portfolio Director for Home and Community-based Services at the West Virginia University Health Affairs Institute.
The Pilot Program was designed to address long-standing workforce challenges including:
• Worker shortages in home-based care
• High turnover rates
• Low wages and limited benefits
• Barriers to recruitment and retention
Her presentation, “Direct Care Workforce Pilot: Results and Opportunities,” focuses on strengthening West Virginia’s direct care workforce particularly workers providing services for elderly people and individuals with disabilities.
The body also heard a presentation from Vanessa Smith from The Store House and her program, the Health to Prosperity Transitional Housing and Workforce Pipeline.
