WEST virginia legislature

2020 regular session

Engrossed

Senate Bill 839

By Senators Roberts, Weld, Baldwin, Boley, Jeffries, Rucker, Smith, Stollings, and Tarr

[Originating in the Committee on Workforce; reported on February 20, 2020]

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §18B-1D-11, relating to creating the State Advisory Council on Postsecondary Attainment Goals; designating members of the council; providing for the powers and duties of the council; requiring certain state agencies to cooperate with the council; and establishing a sunset date for the council.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 1D. HIGHER EDUCATION ACCOUNTABILITY.

 §18B-1D-11. State Advisory Council on Postsecondary Attainment Goals.

 (a) There is hereby created the State Advisory Council on Postsecondary Attainment Goals.  The council’s purpose is to collaborate with the Higher Education Policy Commission and the Council for Community and Technical College Education to identify high-value and in-demand postsecondary credentials, and to develop a plan to assist the state in achieving its postsecondary attainment goal of having 60 percent of West Virginians between the ages of 25 and 64 hold a degree, certificate, or other postsecondary workforce credential of value in the workplace by 2030. 

(b) The State Advisory Council on Postsecondary Attainment Goals shall consist of the following members:

(1) The Chancellor of the Higher Education Policy Commission, or his or her designee;

(2) The State Superintendent of Schools, or his or her designee;

(3) The Secretary of the Department of Commerce, or his or her designee;

(4) The Director of WorkForce West Virginia, or his or her designee;

(5) Two presidents representing the state’s four-year institutions of higher education, at least one of which shall be the president of a regional institution, appointed jointly by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House;

(6) Two presidents representing the state’s community and technical colleges appointed jointly by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House;

(7) The chair of the Senate Committee on Education as an ex officio nonvoting member;

(8) The chair of the House Committee on Education as an ex officio nonvoting member; and

(9) Any other individuals deemed appropriate and appointed jointly by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House.

(c) The council shall be chaired by the Chancellor of the Higher Education Policy Commission. The council shall meet at least quarterly and at the call of the chair. Quorum shall be a simple majority of the council. The administrative functions of the council are the responsibility of the joint staff of the Higher Education Policy Commission and the Council for Community and Technical Education.

(d) The council shall consult with and advise the Legislature on matters related to the progress toward achieving the state’s postsecondary attainment goal as established in subsection (a) of this section, including identifying high-value and in-demand postsecondary credentials.  The council may:

(1) Make recommendations to the Legislature as required by this section;

(2) Provide guidance to the Legislature on potential statutory solutions relative to achievement of the state’s postsecondary attainment goal;

(3) Establish workgroups or subcommittees as the council considers necessary to address pertinent issues related to achievement of the state’s postsecondary attainment goal, and to provide consistency in the development of further regulation, if further regulation is determined to be necessary by the council;

(4) Consult with entities and persons with expertise in the areas being studied by the  council as the council considers necessary in the fulfillment of its duties, including public and private sector partnerships; and

(5) Provide a forum for a full and fair discussion of issues relating to achievement of the state’s postsecondary attainment goal.

(e) The council shall report its findings to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability and the Joint Committee on Government and Finance by December 31, 2020, and annually thereafter until the council terminates, pursuant to the provisions of this section.  The report shall include, at a minimum, the following:

(1) Conclusions and recommendations about the means to achieve the state’s postsecondary attainment goal;

(2) Recommendations for statutory and regulatory modifications, if the council determines that such modifications are necessary;

(3) Identification of any action that the Legislature may take to better foster awareness of the actions being taken to achieve the state’s postsecondary attainment goal; and

(4) Any other ancillary issues relative to achievement of the state’s postsecondary attainment goal.

(f) The State Board of Education, the Superintendent of Schools, the Department of Commerce, WorkForce West Virginia, the presidents of the state’s public institutions of higher education, and all other entities of state government shall cooperate with the council in the exchange of data, information, and expertise, if so requested by the council, including, but not limited to:

(1) Providing the entity’s plans to assist in achievement of the state’s postsecondary attainment goal;

(2) Identifying equity gaps among certain high-risk populations, including, but not limited to, returning adults, academically underprepared students, the economically disadvantaged, and underrepresented racial or ethnic minorities;

(3) Sharing information on the economic impact of achievement of the state’s postsecondary goal on the State of West Virginia;

(4) Providing an assessment of the benefits of implemented programs and activities aimed at achieving the state’s postsecondary attainment goal;

(5) Assisting in the development or revision of detailed action plans to achieve the state’s postsecondary attainment goal; and

(6) Providing resources required to implement the plan to achieve the state’s postsecondary attainment goal.

(g) The council and all provisions of this section shall terminate and no longer be in effect on December 31, 2023.