H. B. 4714


(By Delegates Beach, Shaver, Renner, Poling,

Williams, Perry and Swartzmiller)


(Originating in the

Committee on Education)


[February 27, 2004]



A BILL to amend and reenact §18-2D-1 of the code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to community education; legislative findings and purpose; and clarifying that certain community education programs support public education.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That §18-2D-1 of the code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended and reenacted to read as follows:
ARTICLE 2D. COMMUNITY EDUCATION.

§18-2D-1. Legislative findings and purpose.

The Legislature hereby finds and declares that the public school system in any community is most effective when it involves and serves all of the people of that community and not just the kindergarten, elementary and secondary school students of that community; and that community education promotes a more efficient use of community facilities through an extension of buildings, personnel and equipment. The Legislature recognizes that the Appalachian Education Initiative serves a meaningful function in promoting the role of art education in the public schools, and that the services of such organizations support public education in the state. In recognition of these findings and declarations, it is hereby declared to be the purpose of this article to facilitate the providing of educational, recreational, cultural, social, health and other community services, in accordance with the needs, interests and concerns of the community, through the establishment of community education programs, in cooperation with other governmental agencies and community service organizations.