H. B. 4512


(By Delegates Manuel and Hubbard)
[Introduced February 11, 2000; referred to the
Committee on Education then Finance.]




A BILL to amend and reenact section three, article two, chapter eighteen-a of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, relating to employment of substitute teachers; extending full time professional status to a substitute teacher who holds a position for thirty or more consecutive days; and limiting the seniority gained to that of a substitute professional.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That section three, article two, chapter eighteen-a of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, be amended and reenacted to read as follows:
ARTICLE 2. SCHOOL PERSONNEL.

§18A-2-3. Employment of substitute teachers.

The county superintendent, subject to approval of the county board, shall have authority to employ and assign substitute teachers to any of the following duties: (a) To fill the temporary absence of any teacher or an unexpired school term made vacant by resignation, death, suspension or dismissal; (b) to fill a teaching position of a regular teacher on leave of absence; and (c) to perform the instructional services of any teacher who is authorized by law to be absent from class without loss of pay, providing such absence is approved by the board of education in accordance with the law. Such substitute shall be a duly certified teacher. Any substitute teacher who is placed in a substitute teaching position which lasts for thirty consecutive days or more may, on the thirtieth day, be considered a regular full-time professional employee entitled to all rights and benefits including insurance coverage and retirement credit: Provided, That a substitute teacher shall accrue seniority only as a substitute professional as defined in article four, section seven-a of this chapter.





NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to provide full employment status to substitute teachers who fill a position for thirty or more consecutive days.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.