H. B. 2586
(By Delegates Jenkins, Mezzatesta, Pino,
Johnson, Manuel, Williams and Hubbard)
[Introduced February 2, 1999; referred to the
Committee on Education then Finance.]
A BILL to amend article ten, chapter eighteen-b of the code of
West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as
amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated section
seven-b, relating to establishing the lifelong learning act;
and requiring state institutions of higher education to
establish programs allowing West Virginia residents who are
at least sixty years old to audit classes at no charge.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That article ten, chapter eighteen-b of the code of West
Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, be
amended by adding thereto a new section, designated section
seven-b, to read as follows:
ARTICLE 10. HIGHER EDUCATION.
§18B-10-7b. Tuition and fee waivers for residents at least sixty years old.
Each state institution of higher education shall establish
a lifelong learning program. The program shall allow West
Virginia residents who are at least sixty years old to attend its
undergraduate and graduate courses and classes, if classroom
space is available, without charging the person any tuition or
any fees, including those provided in sections two and three of
this article. The state institution of higher education may
require the person to pay special fees, including laboratory
fees, if the fees are required of all other students taking a
single or the particular course and may also require the person
to pay for parking. The program shall provide, at a minimum:
(1) That no grade or credit be given to persons
participating in the program; and
(2) That priority for allowing a participant to take a
particular class or course be given to those applying for the
class or course in chronological order of request.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to create the Lifelong
Learning Act. It requires all state institutions of higher education to allow West Virginia residents who are at least sixty
years old to audit its undergraduate and graduate classes without
charge.
This section is new; therefore, strike-throughs and
underscoring have been omitted.