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Introduced Version Senate Bill 165 History

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Senate Bill No. 165

(By Senator Kessler)

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[Introduced January 13, 2010; referred to the Committee on Education; and then to the Committee on Finance.]

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A BILL to amend and reenact §18-1-1 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; to amend and reenact §18A-3-1 and §18A-3-1a of said code; to amend and reenact §18A-4-1, §18A-4-4 and §18A-4-8 of said code; to amend and reenact §18B-1B-4 of said code; to amend and reenact §18B-2B-6 of said code; to amend and reenact §18C-6-2 of said code; to amend and reenact §18C-7-3 of said code; and to amend and reenact §30-32-17 of said code, all relating to clarification for graduates of accredited institutions of higher education; and alleviating the shortage of certified teachers in West Virginia.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That §18-1-1 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended and reenacted; that §18A-3-1 and §18A-3-1a of said code be amended and reenacted; that §18A-4-1, §18A-4-4 and §18A-4-8 of said code be amended and reenacted; that §18B-1B-4 of said code be amended and reenacted; that §18B-2B-6 of said code be amended and reenacted; that §18C-6-2 of said code be amended and reenacted; that §18C-7-3 of said code be amended and reenacted; and that §30-32-17 of said code be amended and reenacted, all to read as follows:
CHAPTER 18. EDUCATION.

ARTICLE 1. DEFINITIONS; LIMITATIONS OF CHAPTER; GOALS FOR EDUCATION.

§18-1-1. Definitions.
The following words used in this chapter and in any proceedings pursuant thereto have the meanings ascribed to them unless the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
(a) "School" means the students and teachers assembled in one or more buildings, organized as a unit;
(b) "District" means county school district;
(c) "State board" means the West Virginia Board of Education;
(d) "County board" or "board" means a county board of education;
(e) "State superintendent" means the State Superintendent of Free Schools;
(f) "County superintendent" or "superintendent" means a county superintendent of schools;
(g) "Teacher" means a teacher, supervisor, principal, superintendent, public school librarian or any other person regularly employed for instructional purposes in a public school in this state;
(h) "Service person" or "service personnel," whether singular or plural, means any nonteaching school employee who is not included in the meaning of "teacher" as defined in this section, and who serves the school or schools as a whole, in a nonprofessional capacity, including such areas as secretarial, custodial, maintenance, transportation, school lunch and aides. Any reference to "service employee" or "service employees" in this chapter or chapter eighteen-a of this code means service person or service personnel as defined in this section;
(i) "Social worker" means a nonteaching school employee who, at a minimum, possesses an undergraduate degree in social work from an accredited institution of higher learning and who provides various professional social work services, activities or methods as defined by the state board for the benefit of students;
(j) "Regular full-time employee" means any person employed by a county board who has a regular position or job throughout his or her employment term, without regard to hours or method of pay;
(k) "Career clusters" means broad groupings of related occupations;
(l) "Work-based learning" means a structured activity that correlates with and is mutually supportive of the school-based learning of the student and includes specific objectives to be learned by the student as a result of the activity;
(m) "School-age juvenile" means any individual who is entitled to attend or who, if not placed in a residential facility, would be entitled to attend public schools in accordance with: (1) Section five, article two of this chapter; (2) sections fifteen and eighteen, article five of this chapter; or (3) section one, article twenty of this chapter;
(n) "Student with a disability" means an exceptional child, other than gifted, pursuant to section one, article twenty of this chapter;
(o) "Casual deficit" means a deficit of not more than three percent of the approved levy estimate or a deficit that is nonrecurring from year to year; and
(p) "Accredited institution of higher education" means any public or private college or university accredited by an organization recognized, at the time of the decision under the relevant code provision, by both the Council of Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and the United States Department of Education (USDOE).
CHAPTER 18A. SCHOOL PERSONNEL.

ARTICLE 3. TRAINING, CERTIFICATION, LICENSING, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.

§18A-3-1. Teacher preparation programs; program approval and standards; authority to issue teaching certificates.

(a) The education of professional educators in the state is under the general direction and control of the state board after consultation with the Secretary of Education and the Arts and the Chancellor for Higher Education who shall represent the interests of educator preparation programs within the institutions of higher education in this state as those institutions are defined in section two, article one, chapter eighteen-b of this code.
The education of professional educators in the state includes all programs leading to certification to teach or serve in the public schools including:
(1) Those programs in all institutions of higher education, including student teaching as provided in this section;
(2) Beginning teacher internship programs;
(3) The granting of West Virginia certification to persons who received their preparation to teach outside the boundaries of this state, except as provided in subsection (b) of this section;
(4) Any alternative preparation programs in this state leading to certification, including programs established pursuant to the provisions of section one-a of this article and programs which are in effect on the effective date of this section; and
(5) Any continuing professional education, professional development and in-service training programs for professional educators employed in the public schools in the state.
(b) The state board, after consultation with the Secretary of Education and the Arts and the Chancellor for Higher Education, shall adopt standards for the education of professional educators in the state and for awarding certificates valid in the public schools of this state. The standards shall include, but not be limited to the following:
(1) A provision for the study of multicultural education. As used in this section, multicultural education means the study of the pluralistic nature of American society including its values, institutions, organizations, groups, status positions and social roles;
(2) A provision for the study of classroom management techniques, including methods of effective management of disruptive behavior which shall include societal factors and their impact on student behavior; and
(3) Subject to the provisions of section ten of this article, a teacher from another state shall be awarded a teaching certificate for a comparable grade level and subject area valid in the public schools of this state, if he or she:
(A) Holds a valid teaching certificate or a certificate of eligibility issued by another state;
(B) Has graduated from an educator preparation program at a regionally an accredited institution of higher education;
(C) Possesses the minimum of a bachelor's degree; and
(D) Meets all of the requirements of the state for full certification except employment.
(c) To give prospective teachers the teaching experience needed to demonstrate competence as a prerequisite to certification to teach in the West Virginia public schools, the state board may enter into an agreement with county boards for the use of the public schools.
(d) An agreement established pursuant to subsection (c) of this section shall recognize student teaching as a joint responsibility of the educator preparation institution and the cooperating public schools and shall include:
(1) The minimum qualifications for the employment of public school teachers selected as supervising teachers, including the requirement that field-based and clinical experiences be supervised by a teacher fully certified in the state in which that teacher is supervising;
(2) The remuneration to be paid public school teachers by the state board, in addition to their contractual salaries, for supervising student teachers;
(3) Minimum standards to guarantee the adequacy of the facilities and program of the public school selected for student teaching;
(4) That the student teacher, under the direction and supervision of the supervising teacher, shall exercise the authority of a substitute teacher; and
(5) A provision requiring any higher education institution with an educator preparation program to document that the student teacher's field-based and clinical experiences include participation and instruction with multicultural, at-risk and exceptional children at each programmatic level for which the student teacher seeks certification.
(e) Beginning the fall, 2006 - 2007 academic term, in lieu of the student teaching experience in a public school setting required by this section, an institution of higher education may provide an alternate student teaching experience in a nonpublic school setting if the institution of higher education:
(1) Complies with the provisions of this section;
(2) Has a state board approved educator preparation program; and
(3) Enters into an agreement pursuant to subdivisions (f) and (g) of this section.
(f) At the discretion of the higher education institution, an agreement for an alternate student teaching experience between an institution of higher education and a nonpublic school shall require that either:
(1) The student teacher complete at least one half of the clinical experience in a public school; or
(2) The educator preparation program include a requirement that any student performing student teaching in a nonpublic school complete at least:
(A) Two hundred clock hours of field-based training in a public school; and
(B) A course, which is a component of the institution's state board approved educator preparation program, that provides to prospective teachers information that is equivalent to the teaching experience needed to demonstrate competence as a prerequisite to certification to teach in the public schools in West Virginia. The course shall include instruction on at least the following elements:
(i) State board policy and provisions of this code governing public education;
(ii) Requirements for federal and state accountability, including the mandatory reporting of child abuse;
(iii) Federal and state mandated curriculum and assessment requirements, including multicultural education, safe schools and student code of conduct;
(iv) Federal and state regulations for the instruction of exceptional students as defined by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. §1400 et seq.;
(v) Varied approaches for effective instruction for students who are at-risk;
(g) In addition to the requirements set forth in subsection (f) of this section, an agreement for an alternate student teaching experience between an institution of higher education and a nonpublic school shall:
(1) Require that the higher education institution with an educator preparation program document that the student teacher's field-based and clinical experiences include participation and instruction with multicultural, at-risk and exceptional children at each programmatic level for which the student teacher seeks certification; and
(2) Include the minimum qualifications for the employment of school teachers selected as supervising teachers, including the requirement that field-based and clinical experiences be supervised by a teacher fully certified in the state in which that teacher is supervising.
(h) The state superintendent may issue certificates to graduates of educator preparation programs and alternative educator preparation programs approved by the state board. The certificates are issued in accordance with this section and rules adopted by the state board after consultation with the Secretary of Education and the Arts and the Chancellor for Higher Education.
(1) A certificate to teach may be granted only to any person who is:
(A) A citizen of the United States, except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection;
(B) Is of good moral character;
(C) Physically, mentally and emotionally qualified to perform the duties of a teacher; and
(D) At least eighteen years on or before October 1 of the year in which his or her certificate is issued.
(2) A permit to teach in the public schools of this state may be granted to a person who is an exchange teacher from a foreign country, or an alien person who meets the requirements to teach.
(i) In consultation with the Secretary of Education and the Arts and the Chancellor for Higher Education, institutions of higher education approved for educator preparation may cooperate with each other, with the center for professional development and with one or more county boards to organize and operate centers to provide selected phases of the educator preparation program. The phases include, but are not limited to:
(1) Student teaching;
(2) Beginning teacher internship programs;
(3) Instruction in methodology; and
(4) Seminar programs for college students, teachers with provisional certification, professional support team members and supervising teachers.
The institutions of higher education, the center for professional development and county boards may by mutual agreement budget and expend funds to operate the centers through payments to the appropriate fiscal office of the participating institutions, the center for professional development and the county boards.
(j) The provisions of this section do not require discontinuation of an existing student teacher training center or school which meets the standards of the state board.
(k) All institutions of higher education approved for educator preparation in the 1962-1963 school year shall continue to hold that distinction so long as they meet the minimum standards for educator preparation. Nothing in this section infringes upon the rights granted to any institution by charter given according to law previous to the adoption of this code.
(l) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, nor any other provision of rule, law or this code to the contrary, an institution of higher education may enter into an agreement with a nonpublic school:
(1) For the purposes of this section regarding student teaching;
(2) For the spring, 2006 academic term only;
(3) If the institution is approved for educator preparation by the state board; and
(4) If the institution had entered into the agreement for that academic term prior to the effective date of this section.
(m) As used in this section:
(1) "Nonpublic school" means a private school, parochial school, church school, school operated by a religious order or other nonpublic school that elects to:
(A) Comply with the provisions of article twenty-eight, chapter eighteen of this code;
(B) Participate on a voluntary basis in a state operated or state sponsored program provided to such schools pursuant to this section; and
(C) Comply with the provisions of this section;
(2) "At-risk" means having the potential for academic failure, including, but not limited to, the risk of dropping out of school, involvement in delinquent activity or poverty as indicated by free or reduced lunch status; and
(3) "Exceptional children" has the meaning ascribed pursuant to section one, article twenty, chapter eighteen of this code, but does not include gifted students.
§18A-3-1a. Alternative programs for the education of teachers.
(a) By August 15, 2005, the state board, after consultation with the Secretary of Education and the Arts, shall promulgate rules in accordance with the provisions of article three-b, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code for the approval and operation of teacher education programs which are an alternative to the regular college or university programs for the education of teachers. To participate in an approved alternative teacher education program, the candidate must hold an alternative program teacher certificate issued by the superintendent and endorsed for the instructional field in which the candidate seeks certification. An alternative program teacher certificate is a certificate issued for one year to a candidate who does not meet the standard educational requirements for certification. The certificate may be renewed no more than two times. No individual may hold an alternative program teacher certificate for a period exceeding three years. The alternative program teacher certificate shall be considered a professional teaching certificate for the purpose of the issuance of a continuing contract. To be eligible for an alternative program teacher certificate, an applicant shall:
(1) Possess at least a bachelor's degree from a regionally an accredited institution of higher education in a discipline taught in the public schools except that the rules established by the board may exempt candidates in selected vocational and technical areas who have at least ten years' experience in the subject field from this requirement;
(2) Pass an appropriate state board approved basic skills and subject matter test in the area for which licensure is being sought;
(3) Be a citizen of the United States, be of good moral character and physically, mentally and emotionally qualified to perform the duties of a teacher, and have attained the age of eighteen years on or before October 1 of the year in which the alternative program teacher certificate is issued;
(4) Have been offered employment by a county board in an area of critical need and shortage; and
(5) Qualify following a criminal history check pursuant to section ten of this article.
Persons who satisfy the requirements set forth in subdivisions (1) through (5) of this subsection shall be granted a formal document which will enable them to work in a public school in West Virginia.
(b) The rules adopted by the board shall include provisions for the approval of alternative teacher education programs which may be offered by schools, school districts, consortia of schools or regional educational service agency and for the setting of tuition charges to offset the program costs. An approved alternative teacher education program shall be in effect for a school, school district, consortium of schools or regional educational service agency before an alternative program teacher may be employed in that school, school district, consortium of schools or regional educational service agency. An approved alternative program shall provide essential knowledge and skills to alternative program teachers through the following phases of training:
(1) Instruction. -- The alternative preparation program shall provide a minimum of eighteen semester hours of instruction in the areas of student assessment; development and learning; curriculum; classroom management; the use of educational computers and other technology; and special education and diversity. All programs shall contain a minimum of three semester hours of instruction in special education and diversity out of the minimum eighteen required semester hours.
(2) Phase I. -- Phase I shall consist of a period of intensive on-the-job supervision by an assigned mentor and the school administrator for a period of not less than two weeks and no more than four weeks. The assigned mentor shall meet the requirements for mentor set forth in section two-b of this article and be paid the stipend pursuant to that section. During this time, the teacher shall be observed daily. This phase shall include an orientation to the policies, organization and curriculum of the employing district. The alternative program teacher shall begin to receive formal instruction in those areas listed in subdivision (1) of this subsection.
(3) Phase II. -- Phase II shall consist of a period of intensive on-the-job supervision beginning the first day following the completion of Phase I and continuing for a period of at least ten weeks. During Phase II, the alternative program teacher shall be visited and critiqued no less than one time per week by members of a professional support team, defined in subsection (c) of this section, and shall be observed and formally evaluated at the end of five weeks and at the end of ten weeks by the appropriately certified members of the team. At the end of the ten-week period, the alternative program teacher shall receive a formal written progress report from the chairperson of the support team. The alternative program teacher shall continue to receive formal instruction in those areas listed above under subdivision (1) of this subsection.
(4) Phase III. -- Phase III shall consist of an additional period of continued supervision and evaluation of no less than twenty weeks duration. The professional support team will determine the requirements of this phase with at least one formal evaluation being conducted at the completion of the phase. The alternative program teacher shall continue to receive formal instruction in those areas listed above under subdivision (1) of this subsection, and receive opportunities to observe the teaching of experienced colleagues.
(c) Training and supervision of alternative program teachers shall be provided by a professional support team comprised of a school principal, an experienced classroom teacher who satisfies the requirements for mentor for the Beginning Educator Internship as specified in section two-b of this article, a college or university education faculty member and a curriculum supervisor. Districts or schools which do not employ curriculum supervisors or have been unable to establish a relationship with a college or university shall provide for comparable expertise on the team. The school principal shall serve as chairperson of the team. In addition to other duties assigned to it under this section and section one-b of this article, the professional support team shall submit a written evaluation of the alternative program teacher to the county superintendent. The written evaluation shall be in a form specified by the county superintendent and submitted on a date specified by the county superintendent that is prior to the first Monday of May. The evaluation shall report the progress of the alternative program teacher toward meeting the academic and performance requirements of the program.
(d) The training for professional support team members shall be coordinated and provided by the Center for Professional Development in coordination with the school district, consortium of schools, regional educational service agency, and institution of higher education, or any combination of these agencies as set forth in the plan approved by the state board pursuant to subsection (e) of this section.
(e) A school, school district, consortium of schools or regional educational service agency seeking to employ an alternative program teacher must submit a plan to the state board and receive approval. Each plan shall describe how the proposed training program will accomplish the key elements of an alternative program for the education of teachers as set forth in this section. Each school, school district, consortium of schools or regional educational service agency shall show evidence in its plan of having sought joint sponsorship of their training program with institutions of higher education.
(f) The state board shall promulgate a rule in accordance with article three-b, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code for the approval and operation of alternative education programs to prepare highly qualified special education teachers that are separate from the programs established under the other provisions of this section and are applicable only to teachers who have at least a bachelor's degree in a program for the preparation of teachers from a regionally an accredited institution of higher education. These programs are subject to the other provisions of this section only to the extent specifically provided for in the rule. These programs may be an alternative to the regular college and university programs for the education of special education teachers and also may address the content area preparation of certified special education teachers. The programs shall incorporate professional development to the maximum extent possible to help teachers who are currently certified in special education to obtain the required content area preparation. Participation in an alternative education program pursuant to this subsection shall does not affect any rights
, privileges or benefits to which the participant would otherwise be entitled as a regular employee, nor does it alter any rights , privileges or benefits of participants on continuing contract status. The state board shall report to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability on the programs authorized under this subsection during the July, 2005, interim meetings or as soon thereafter as practical prior to implementation of the programs.
(g) The state board shall promulgate a rule in accordance with article three-b, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code for the approval and operation of alternative education programs to prepare highly qualified special education teachers that are separate from the programs established under the other provisions of this section and are applicable only to persons who hold a bachelor's degree from a regionally an accredited institution of higher education. These programs are subject to the other provisions of this section only to the extent specifically provided for in this rule. These programs may be an alternative to the regular college and university programs for the education of special education teachers and also may address the content area preparation of such persons. The state board shall report to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability on the programs authorized under this subsection during the July, 2005, interim meetings or as soon thereafter as practical prior to implementation of the programs.
(h) For the purposes of this section, "area of critical need and shortage" means an opening in an established, existing or newly created position which has been posted in accordance with the provisions of section seven-a, article four of this chapter, and for which no fully qualified applicant has been employed.
(i) The recommendation to rehire an alternative education program teacher pursuant to section eight-a, article two of this chapter is subject to the position being posted and no fully qualified applicant being employed: Provided, That this provision does not apply to teachers who hold a valid West Virginia professional teaching certificate and who are employed under a program operated pursuant to subsection (f).
(j) When making decisions affecting the hiring of an alternative program teacher under the provisions of this section, a county board shall give preference to applicants who hold a valid West Virginia professional teaching certificate.
ARTICLE 4. SALARIES, WAGES AND OTHER BENEFITS.
§18A-4-1. Definitions.
For the purpose of this article, salaries shall be are defined as: (a) "Basic salaries" which shall mean the salaries paid to teachers with zero years of experience and in accordance with the classification of certification and of training of said teachers; and (b) "advanced salaries" which shall mean the basic salary plus an experience increment based on the allowable years of experience of the respective teachers in accordance with the schedule established herein for the applicable classification of certification and of training of said teachers.
"Classification of certification" means the class or type of certificate issued by the state superintendent under the statutory provisions of this chapter. "Classification of training" means the number of collegiate or graduate hours necessary to meet the requirements stipulated in the definitions set forth in the next paragraph in items (2) to (11), inclusive.
The column heads of the state minimum salary schedule set forth in section two of this article are defined as follows:
(1) "Years of experience" means the number of years the teacher has been employed in the teaching profession, including active work in educational positions other than the public schools, and service in the Armed Forces of the United States if the teacher was under contract to teach at the time of induction. For a registered professional nurse employed by a county board, "years of experience" means the number of years the nurse has been employed as a public school health nurse, including active work in a nursing position related to education, and service in the Armed Forces if the nurse was under contract with the county board at the time of induction. For the purpose of section two of this article, the experience of a teacher or a nurse shall be limited to that allowed under their training classification as found in the minimum salary schedule.
(2) "Fourth class" means all certificates previously identified as: (a) "Certificates secured by examination"; and (b) "other first grade certificates".
(3) "Third class" means all certificates previously identified as: (a) "Standard normal certificates"; and (b) "third class temporary (sixty-four semester hours) certificates".
(4) "Second class" means all certificates previously identified as "second class temporary certificates based upon the required ninety-six hours of college work".
(5) "A.B." means a bachelor's degree, from an accredited institution of higher education, which has been issued to, or for which the requirements for such have been met by, a person who qualifies for or holds a professional certificate or its equivalent. A registered professional nurse with a bachelor's degree, who is licensed by the West Virginia board of examiners for registered professional nurses and employed by a county board, shall be within this classification for payment in accordance with sections two and two-a of this article.
(6) "A.B. plus 15" means a bachelor's degree as defined above plus fifteen hours of graduate work, from an accredited institution of higher education certified to do graduate work, in an approved planned program at the graduate level which requirements have been met by a person who qualifies for or holds a professional certificate or its equivalent.
(7) "M.A." means a master's degree, earned in an institution of higher education approved to do graduate work, which has been issued to, or the requirements for such have been met by, a person who qualifies for or holds a professional certificate or its equivalent.
(8) "M.A. plus 15" means the above-defined master's degree plus fifteen hours of graduate work, earned in an institution of higher education approved to do graduate work, if the person is qualified for or holds a professional certificate or its equivalent.
(9) "M.A. plus 30" means the above-defined master's degree plus thirty graduate hours, earned in an institution approved to do graduate work, if the person is qualified for or holds a professional certificate or its equivalent.
(10) "Doctorate" means a doctor's degree, earned from a university qualified and approved to confer such a degree, which has been issued to or the requirements for such have been met by a person who qualifies for or holds a professional certificate or its equivalent.
For purposes of advanced salary classification, graduate work completed after July 1, 1994, shall be related to the public school program, as prescribed by the state board.
Notwithstanding the requirements set forth in subdivisions (6), (8) and (9) of this section relating to hours of graduate work at an institution certified to do such work, fifteen undergraduate credit hours from a regionally an accredited institution of higher education, earned after the effective date of this section, may be utilized for advanced salary classification if such hours are in accordance with: (a) The teacher's current classification of certification and of training; (b) a designated instructional shortage area documented by the employing county superintendent; or (c) an identified teaching deficiency documented through the state approved county personnel evaluation system.
Effective July 1, 1994, the following definition shall be applicable.
(11) "M.A. plus 45" means the above-defined master's degree plus forty-five graduate hours, earned in an institution approved to do graduate work, if the person is qualified for or holds a professional certificate or its equivalent.
§18A-4-4. Minimum salary schedule for teachers having specialized training.

The State Board of Education shall establish the minimum salary schedule for teachers where specialized training may be required for vocational, technical and adult education, and such other permits as may be authorized by said board.
On and after July 1, 1985, any vocational industrial, technical, occupational home economics, or health occupations teacher who is required to hold a vocational certificate and is paid a salary equivalent to the amount prescribed for "A.B. + 15" training classification in the state minimum salary schedule for teachers under section two of this article shall, upon application therefor, receive advanced salary classification and be entitled to increased compensation on and after such date in respect to and based upon additional semester hours, approved by the State Board of Education and completed either prior to or subsequent to such date. All such hours earned must be from a regionally an accredited institution of higher education.
The advanced salary classification shall be is as follows:
(1) Those who have earned fifteen such additional semester hours shall receive an amount equal to that prescribed for the "M.A." training classification under section two of this article.
(2) Those who have earned thirty such additional semester hours shall receive an amount equal to that prescribed for the "M.A. + 15" training classification under section two of this article.
(3) Those who have earned forty-five such additional semester hours shall receive an amount equal to that prescribed for the "M.A. + 30" training classification under section two of this article.
(4) Those who have earned sixty such additional semester hours shall receive an amount equal to that prescribed for the "M.A. + 45" training classification under section two of this article.
Any such teacher who has a permanent vocational certificate and who has earned or earns a bachelor's degree prior or subsequent to the issuance of such certificate shall be entitled to receive the amount prescribed for the "M.A. + 30" training classification upon application: Provided, That any such teacher who has a permanent vocational certificate and who has earned or earns fifteen graduate hours prior or subsequent to the issuance of such certificate shall be entitled to receive the amount prescribed for the "M.A. + 45" training classification upon application therefor, such advanced salary to take effect immediately upon qualification therefor: Provided, however, That any vocational teacher receiving the amount prescribed for the "M.A. + 30" training classification under prior enactments of this section who have not been issued a permanent vocational certificate shall may not have such salary reduced as a result of this section: Provided further, That any teacher with a vocational certificate and under contract for the school year 1985 - 1986 who has earned a bachelor's degree prior to the end of such school year shall be entitled to receive the amount prescribed for the "M.A. + 30" training classification, upon application therefor, for the school year beginning on July 1, 1986, and thereafter.
No teacher holding a valid professional certificate shall incur a salary reduction resulting from assignment out of the teacher's field by the superintendent, with the approval of the county board, under any authorization or regulation of the state board.
§18A-4-8. Employment term and class titles of service personnel; definitions.

(a) The purpose of this section is to establish an employment term and class titles for service personnel. The employment term for service personnel may not be less than ten months. A month is defined as twenty employment days: Provided, That the county board may contract with all or part of these service personnel for a longer term. The beginning and closing dates of the ten-month employment term may not exceed forty-three weeks.
(b) Service personnel employed on a yearly or twelve-month basis may be employed by calendar months. Whenever there is a change in job assignment during the school year, the minimum pay scale and any county supplement are applicable.
(c) Service personnel employed in the same classification for more than the two hundred day minimum employment term shall be paid for additional employment at a daily rate of not less than the daily rate paid for the two hundred day minimum employment term.
(d) A service person may not be required to report for work more than five days per week without his or her agreement, and no part of any working day may be accumulated by the employer for future work assignments, unless the employee agrees thereto.
(e) If a service person whose regular work week is scheduled from Monday through Friday agrees to perform any work assignments on a Saturday or Sunday, the service person shall be paid for at least one-half day of work for each day he or she reports for work. If the service person works more than three and one-half hours on any Saturday or Sunday, he or she shall be paid for at least a full day of work for each day.
(f) A custodian, aide, maintenance, office and school lunch service person required to work a daily work schedule that is interrupted shall be paid additional compensation.
(1) A maintenance person is defined as a person who holds a classification title other than in a custodial, aide, school lunch, office or transportation category as provided in section one, article one of this chapter.
(2) A service person's schedule is considered to be interrupted if he or she does not work a continuous period in one day. Aides are not regarded as working an interrupted schedule when engaged exclusively in the duties of transporting students;
(3) The additional compensation provided for in this subsection:
(A) Is equal to at least one eighth of a service person's total salary as provided by the state minimum pay scale and any county pay supplement; and
(B) Is payable entirely from county board funds.
(g) When there is a change in classification or when a service person meets the requirements of an advanced classification, his or her salary shall be made to comply with the requirements of this article and any county salary schedule in excess of the minimum requirements of this article, based upon the service person's advanced classification and allowable years of employment.
(h) A service person's, contract as provided in section five, article two of this chapter, shall state the appropriate monthly salary the employee is to be paid, based on the class title as provided in this article and on any county salary schedule in excess of the minimum requirements of this article.
(i) The column heads of the state minimum pay scale and class titles, set forth in section eight-a of this article, are defined as follows:
(1) "Pay grade" means the monthly salary applicable to class titles of service personnel;
(2) "Years of employment" means the number of years which an employee classified as a service person has been employed by a county board in any position prior to or subsequent to the effective date of this section and includes service in the Armed Forces of the United States, if the employee was employed at the time of his or her induction. For the purpose of section eight-a of this article, years of employment is limited to the number of years shown and allowed under the state minimum pay scale as set forth in section eight-a of this article;
(3) "Class title" means the name of the position or job held by a service person;
(4) "Accountant I" means a person employed to maintain payroll records and reports and perform one or more operations relating to a phase of the total payroll;
(5) "Accountant II" means a person employed to maintain accounting records and to be responsible for the accounting process associated with billing, budgets, purchasing and related operations;
(6) "Accountant III" means a person employed in the county board office to manage and supervise accounts payable, payroll procedures, or both;
(7) "Accounts payable supervisor" means a person employed in the county board office who has primary responsibility for the accounts payable function and who either has completed twelve college hours of accounting courses from an accredited institution of higher education or has at least eight years of experience performing progressively difficult accounting tasks. Responsibilities of this class title may include supervision of other personnel;
(8) "Aide I" means a person selected and trained for a teacher-aide classification such as monitor aide, clerical aide, classroom aide or general aide;
(9) "Aide II" means a service person referred to in the "Aide I" classification who has completed a training program approved by the state board, or who holds a high school diploma or has received a general educational development certificate. Only a person classified in an Aide II class title may be employed as an aide in any special education program;
(10) "Aide III" means a service person referred to in the "Aide I" classification who holds a high school diploma or a general educational development certificate; and
(A) Has completed six semester hours of college credit at an institution of higher education; or
(B) Is employed as an aide in a special education program and has one year's experience as an aide in special education;
(11) "Aide IV" means a service person referred to in the "Aide I" classification who holds a high school diploma or a general educational development certificate; and
(A) Has completed eighteen hours of state board-approved college credit at a regionally an accredited institution of higher education, or
(B) Has completed fifteen hours of state board-approved college credit at a regionally an accredited institution of higher education; and has successfully completed an in-service training program determined by the state board to be the equivalent of three hours of college credit;
(12) "Audiovisual technician" means a person employed to perform minor maintenance on audiovisual equipment, films, and supplies and who fills requests for equipment;
(13) "Auditor" means a person employed to examine and verify accounts of individual schools and to assist schools and school personnel in maintaining complete and accurate records of their accounts;
(14) "Autism mentor" means a person who works with autistic students and who meets standards and experience to be determined by the state board. A person who has held or holds an aide title and becomes employed as an autism mentor shall hold a multiclassification status that includes both aide and autism mentor titles, in accordance with section eight-b of this article;
(15) "Braille or sign language specialist" means a person employed to provide braille and/or sign language assistance to students. A service person who has held or holds an aide title and becomes employed as a braille or sign language specialist shall hold a multiclassification status that includes both aide and braille or sign language specialist title, in accordance with section eight-b of this article;
(16) "Bus operator" means a person employed to operate school buses and other school transportation vehicles as provided by the state board;
(17) "Buyer" means a person employed to review and write specifications, negotiate purchase bids and recommend purchase agreements for materials and services that meet predetermined specifications at the lowest available costs;
(18) "Cabinetmaker" means a person employed to construct cabinets, tables, bookcases and other furniture;
(19) "Cafeteria manager" means a person employed to direct the operation of a food services program in a school, including assigning duties to employees, approving requisitions for supplies and repairs, keeping inventories, inspecting areas to maintain high standards of sanitation, preparing financial reports and keeping records pertinent to food services of a school;
(20) "Carpenter I" means a person classified as a carpenter's helper;
(21) "Carpenter II" means a person classified as a journeyman carpenter;
(22) "Chief mechanic" means a person employed to be responsible for directing activities which ensure that student transportation or other county board-owned vehicles are properly and safely maintained;
(23) "Clerk I" means a person employed to perform clerical tasks;
(24) "Clerk II" means a person employed to perform general clerical tasks, prepare reports and tabulations and operate office machines;
(25) "Computer operator" means a qualified person employed to operate computers;
(26) "Cook I" means a person employed as a cook's helper;
(27) "Cook II" means a person employed to interpret menus and to prepare and serve meals in a food service program of a school. This definition includes a service person who has been employed as a "Cook I" for a period of four years;
(28) "Cook III" means a person employed to prepare and serve meals, make reports, prepare requisitions for supplies, order equipment and repairs for a food service program of a school system;
(29) "Crew leader" means a person employed to organize the work for a crew of maintenance employees to carry out assigned projects;
(30) "Custodian I" means a person employed to keep buildings clean and free of refuse;
(31) "Custodian II" means a person employed as a watchman or groundsman;
(32) "Custodian III" means a person employed to keep buildings clean and free of refuse, to operate the heating or cooling systems and to make minor repairs;
(33) "Custodian IV" means a person employed as head custodians. In addition to providing services as defined in "custodian III," duties may include supervising other custodian personnel;
(34) "Director or coordinator of services" means an employee of a county board who is assigned to direct a department or division.
(A) Nothing in this subdivision prohibits a professional person or a professional educator from holding this class title;
(B) Professional personnel holding this class title may not be defined or classified as service personnel unless the professional person held a service personnel title under this section prior to holding the class title of "director or coordinator of services."
(C) The director or coordinator of services shall be classified either as a professional person or a service person for state aid formula funding purposes; and
(D) Funding for the position of director or coordinator of services is based upon the employment status of the director or coordinator either as a professional person or a service person;
(35) "Draftsman" means a person employed to plan, design and produce detailed architectural/engineering drawings;
(36) "Electrician I" means a person employed as an apprentice electrician helper or one who holds an electrician helper license issued by the State Fire Marshal;
(37) "Electrician II" means a person employed as an electrician journeyman or one who holds a journeyman electrician license issued by the State Fire Marshal;
(38) "Electronic technician I" means a person employed at the apprentice level to repair and maintain electronic equipment;
(39) "Electronic technician II" means a person employed at the journeyman level to repair and maintain electronic equipment;
(40) "Executive secretary" means a person employed as secretary to the county school superintendent or as a secretary who is assigned to a position characterized by significant administrative duties;
(41) "Food services supervisor" means a qualified person who is not a professional person or professional educator as defined in section one, article one of this chapter. The food services supervisor is employed to manage and supervise a county school system's food service program. The duties include preparing in- service training programs for cooks and food service employees, instructing personnel in the areas of quantity cooking with economy and efficiency and keeping aggregate records and reports;
(42) "Foreman" means a skilled person employed to supervise personnel who work in the areas of repair and maintenance of school property and equipment;
(43) "General maintenance" means a person employed as a helper to skilled maintenance employees and to perform minor repairs to equipment and buildings of a county school system;
(44) "Glazier" means a person employed to replace glass or other materials in windows and doors and to do minor carpentry tasks;
(45) "Graphic artist" means a person employed to prepare graphic illustrations;
(46) "Groundsman" means a person employed to perform duties that relate to the appearance, repair and general care of school grounds in a county school system. Additional assignments may include the operation of a small heating plant and routine cleaning duties in buildings;
(47) "Handyman" means a person employed to perform routine manual tasks in any operation of the county school system;
(48) "Heating and air conditioning mechanic I" means a person employed at the apprentice level to install, repair and maintain heating and air conditioning plants and related electrical equipment;
(49) "Heating and air conditioning mechanic II" means a person employed at the journeyman level to install, repair and maintain heating and air conditioning plants and related electrical equipment;
(50) "Heavy equipment operator" means a person employed to operate heavy equipment;
(51) "Inventory supervisor" means a person employed to supervise or maintain operations in the receipt, storage, inventory and issuance of materials and supplies;
(52) "Key punch operator" means a qualified person employed to operate key punch machines or verifying machines;
(53) "Licensed practical nurse" means a nurse, licensed by the West Virginia Board of Examiners for Licensed Practical Nurses, employed to work in a public school under the supervision of a school nurse;
(54) "Locksmith" means a person employed to repair and maintain locks and safes;
(55) "Lubrication man" means a person employed to lubricate and service gasoline or diesel-powered equipment of a county school system;
(56) "Machinist" means a person employed to perform machinist tasks which include the ability to operate a lathe, planer, shaper, threading machine and wheel press. A person holding this class title also should have the ability to work from blueprints and drawings;
(57) "Mail clerk" means a person employed to receive, sort, dispatch, deliver or otherwise handle letters, parcels and other mail;
(58) "Maintenance clerk" means a person employed to maintain and control a stocking facility to keep adequate tools and supplies on hand for daily withdrawal for all school maintenance crafts;
(59) "Mason" means a person employed to perform tasks connected with brick and block laying and carpentry tasks related to these activities;
(60) "Mechanic" means a person employed to perform skilled duties independently in the maintenance and repair of automobiles, school buses and other mechanical and mobile equipment to use in a county school system;
(61) "Mechanic assistant" means a person employed as a mechanic apprentice and helper;
(62) "Multiclassification" means a person employed to perform tasks that involve the combination of two or more class titles in this section. In these instances the minimum salary scale shall be the higher pay grade of the class titles involved;
(63) "Office equipment repairman I" means a person employed as an office equipment repairman apprentice or helper;
(64) "Office equipment repairman II" means a person responsible for servicing and repairing all office machines and equipment. A person holding this class title is responsible for the purchase of parts necessary for the proper operation of a program of continuous maintenance and repair;
(65) "Painter" means a person employed to perform duties painting, finishing and decorating wood, metal and concrete surfaces of buildings, other structures, equipment, machinery and furnishings of a county school system;
(66) "Paraprofessional" means a person certified pursuant to section two-a, article three of this chapter to perform duties in a support capacity including, but not limited to, facilitating in the instruction and direct or indirect supervision of students under the direction of a principal, a teacher or another designated professional educator.
(A) A person employed on the effective date of this section in the position of an aide may not be subject to a reduction in force or transferred to create a vacancy for the employment of a paraprofessional;
(B) A person who has held or holds an aide title and becomes employed as a paraprofessional shall hold a multiclassification status that includes both aide and paraprofessional titles in accordance with section eight-b of this article; and
(C) When a service person who holds an aide title becomes certified as a paraprofessional and is required to perform duties that may not be performed by an aide without paraprofessional certification, he or she shall receive the paraprofessional title pay grade;
(67) "Payroll supervisor" means a person employed in the county board office who has primary responsibility for the payroll function and who either has completed twelve college hours of accounting from an accredited institution of higher education or has at least eight years of experience performing progressively difficult accounting tasks. Responsibilities of this class title may include supervision of other personnel;
(68) "Plumber I" means a person employed as an apprentice plumber and helper;
(69) "Plumber II" means a person employed as a journeyman plumber;
(70) "Printing operator" means a person employed to operate duplication equipment, and to cut, collate, staple, bind and shelve materials as required;
(71) "Printing supervisor" means a person employed to supervise the operation of a print shop;
(72) "Programmer" means a person employed to design and prepare programs for computer operation;
(73) "Roofing/sheet metal mechanic" means a person employed to install, repair, fabricate and maintain roofs, gutters, flashing and duct work for heating and ventilation;
(74) "Sanitation plant operator" means a person employed to operate and maintain a water or sewage treatment plant to ensure the safety of the plant's effluent for human consumption or environmental protection;
(75) "School bus supervisor" means a qualified person employed to assist in selecting school bus operators and routing and scheduling school buses, operate a bus when needed, relay instructions to bus operators, plan emergency routing of buses and promote good relationships with parents, students, bus operators and other employees;
(76) "Secretary I" means a person employed to transcribe from notes or mechanical equipment, receive callers, perform clerical tasks, prepare reports and operate office machines;
(77) "Secretary II" means a person employed in any elementary, secondary, kindergarten, nursery, special education, vocational or any other school as a secretary. The duties may include performing general clerical tasks; transcribing from notes, stenotype, mechanical equipment or a sound-producing machine; preparing reports; receiving callers and referring them to proper persons; operating office machines; keeping records and handling routine correspondence. Nothing in this subdivision prevents a service person from holding or being elevated to a higher classification;
(78) "Secretary III" means a person assigned to the county board office administrators in charge of various instructional, maintenance, transportation, food services, operations and health departments, federal programs or departments with particular responsibilities in purchasing and financial control or any person who has served for eight years in a position which meets the definition of "secretary II" or "secretary III";
(79) "Supervisor of maintenance" means a skilled person who is not a professional person or professional educator as defined in section one, article one of this chapter. The responsibilities include directing the upkeep of buildings and shops, and issuing instructions to subordinates relating to cleaning, repairs and maintenance of all structures and mechanical and electrical equipment of a county board;
(80) "Supervisor of transportation" means a qualified person employed to direct school transportation activities properly and safely, and to supervise the maintenance and repair of vehicles, buses and other mechanical and mobile equipment used by the county school system;
(81) "Switchboard operator-receptionist" means a person employed to refer incoming calls, to assume contact with the public, to direct and to give instructions as necessary, to operate switchboard equipment and to provide clerical assistance;
(82) "Truck driver" means a person employed to operate light or heavy duty gasoline and diesel-powered vehicles;
(83) "Warehouse clerk" means a person employed to be responsible for receiving, storing, packing and shipping goods;
(84) "Watchman" means a person employed to protect school property against damage or theft. Additional assignments may include operation of a small heating plant and routine cleaning duties;
(85) "Welder" means a person employed to provide acetylene or electric welding services for a school system; and
(86) "WVEIS data entry and administrative clerk" means a person employed to work under the direction of a school principal to assist the school counselor or counselors in the performance of administrative duties, to perform data entry tasks on the West Virginia Education Information System, and to perform other administrative duties assigned by the principal.
(j) Notwithstanding any provision in this code to the contrary, and in addition to the compensation provided for service personnel in section eight-a of this article, each service person is, entitled to all service personnel employee rights, privileges and benefits provided under this or any other chapter of this code without regard to the employee's hours of employment or the methods or sources of compensation.
(k) A service person whose years of employment exceeds the number of years shown and provided for under the state minimum pay scale set forth in section eight-a of this article may not be paid less than the amount shown for the maximum years of employment shown and provided for in the classification in which he or she is employed.
(l) Each county board shall review each service person's job classification annually and shall reclassify all service persons as required by the job classifications. The state superintendent may withhold state funds appropriated pursuant to this article for salaries for service personnel who are improperly classified by the county boards. Further, the state superintendent shall order a county board to correct immediately any improper classification matter and, with the assistance of the Attorney General, shall take any legal action necessary against any county board to enforce the order.
(m) Without his or her written consent, a service person may not be:
(1) Reclassified by class title; or
(2) Relegated to any condition of employment which would result in a reduction of his or her salary, rate of pay, compensation or benefits earned during the current fiscal year; or for which he or she would qualify by continuing in the same job position and classification held during that fiscal year and subsequent years.
(n) Any county board failing to comply with the provisions of this article may be compelled to do so by mandamus and is liable to any party prevailing against the board for court costs and the prevailing party's reasonable attorney fee, as determined and established by the court.
(o) Notwithstanding any provision of this code to the contrary, a service person who holds a continuing contract in a specific job classification and who is physically unable to perform the job's duties as confirmed by a physician chosen by the employee, shall be given priority status over any employee not holding a continuing contract in filling other service personnel job vacancies if the service person is qualified as provided in section eight-e of this article.
(p) Any person employed in an aide position on the effective date of this section may not be transferred or subject to a reduction in force for the purpose of creating a vacancy for the employment of a licensed practical nurse.
(q) Without the written consent of the service person, a county board may not establish the beginning work station for a bus operator or transportation aide at any site other than a county board-owned facility with available parking. The workday of the bus operator or transportation aide commences at the bus at the designated beginning work station and ends when the employee is able to leave the bus at the designated beginning work station, unless he or she agrees otherwise in writing. The application or acceptance of a posted position may not be construed as the written consent referred to in this subsection.
CHAPTER 18B. HIGHER EDUCATION.

ARTICLE 1B. HIGHER EDUCATION POLICY COMMISSION.
§18B-1B-4. Powers and duties of Higher Education Policy Commission.

(a) The primary responsibility of the commission is to develop, establish and implement policy that will achieve the goals and objectives found in section one-a, article one of this chapter. The commission shall exercise its authority and carry out its responsibilities in a manner that is consistent and not in conflict with the powers and duties assigned by law to the West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education and the powers and duties assigned to the governing boards of Marshall University and West Virginia University, respectively. To that end, the commission has the following powers and duties relating to the institutions under its jurisdiction:
(1) Develop, oversee and advance the public policy agenda pursuant to section one, article one-a of this chapter to address major challenges facing the state, including, but not limited to, the goals and objectives found in section one-a, article one of this chapter and including specifically those goals and objectives pertaining to the compacts created pursuant to section two, article one-a of this chapter and to develop and implement the master plan described in section nine of this article for the purpose of accomplishing the mandates of this section;
(2) Develop, oversee and advance the implementation jointly with the council of a financing policy for higher education in West Virginia. The policy shall meet the following criteria:
(A) Provide an adequate level of education and general funding for institutions pursuant to section five, article one-a of this chapter;
(B) Serve to maintain institutional assets, including, but not limited to, human and physical resources and deferred maintenance;
(C) Invest and provide incentives for achieving the priority goals in the public policy agenda, including, but not limited to, those found in section one-a, article one of this chapter; and
(D) Incorporate the plan for strategic funding to strengthen capacity for support of community and technical college education established by the West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education pursuant to the provisions of section six, article two-b of this chapter;
(3) In collaboration with the council, create a policy leadership structure capable of the following actions:
(A) Developing, building public consensus around and sustaining attention to a long-range public policy agenda. In developing the agenda, the commission and council shall seek input from the Legislature and the Governor and specifically from the State Board of Education and local school districts in order to create the necessary linkages to assure smooth, effective and seamless movement of students through the public education and post-secondary education systems and to ensure that the needs of public school courses and programs can be fulfilled by the graduates produced and the programs offered;
(B) Ensuring that the governing boards carry out their duty effectively to govern the individual institutions of higher education; and
(C) Holding the higher education institutions and the higher education systems as a whole accountable for accomplishing their missions and implementing the provisions of the compacts;
(4) Develop and adopt each institutional compact;
(5) Review and adopt the annual updates of the institutional compacts;
(6) Serve as the accountability point to:
(A) The Governor for implementation of the public policy agenda; and
(B) The Legislature by maintaining a close working relationship with the legislative leadership and the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability;
(7) Jointly with the council, promulgate legislative rules pursuant to article three-a, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code to fulfill the purposes of section five, article one-a of this chapter;
(8) Establish and implement a peer group for each institution as described in section three, article one-a of this chapter;
(9) Establish and implement the benchmarks and performance indicators necessary to measure institutional achievement towards state policy priorities and institutional missions pursuant to section two, article one-a of this chapter;
(10) Annually report to the Legislature and to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability during the January interim meetings on a date and at a time and location to be determined by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Delegates. The report shall address at least the following:
(A) The performance of its system of higher education during the previous fiscal year, including, but not limited to, progress in meeting goals stated in the compacts and progress of the institutions and the higher education system as a whole in meeting the goals and objectives set forth in section one-a, article one of this chapter;
(B) An analysis of enrollment data collected pursuant to section one, article ten of this chapter and recommendations for any changes necessary to assure access to high-quality, high-demand education programs for West Virginia residents;
(C) The priorities established for capital investment needs pursuant to subdivision (11) of this subsection and the justification for such priority;
(D) Recommendations of the commission for statutory changes needed to further the goals and objectives set forth in section one-a, article one of this chapter;
(11) Establish a formal process for identifying needs for capital investments and for determining priorities for these investments for consideration by the Governor and the Legislature as part of the appropriation request process. It is the responsibility of the commission to assure a fair distribution of funds for capital projects between the commission and the council. To that end the commission shall take the following steps:
(A) Receive the list of priorities developed by the council for capital investment for the institutions under the council's jurisdiction pursuant to subsection (b), section six, article two-b of this chapter;
(B) Place the ranked list of projects on the agenda for action within sixty days of the date on which the list was received;
(C) Select a minimum of three projects from the list submitted by the council to be included on the ranked list established by the commission. At least one of the three projects selected must come from the top two priorities established by the council;
(12) Maintain guidelines for institutions to follow concerning extensive capital project management except the governing boards of Marshall University and West Virginia University are not subject to the provisions of this subdivision as it relates to the State Institutions of Higher Education known as Marshall University and West Virginia University. The guidelines shall provide a process for developing capital projects, including, but not limited to, the notification by an institution to the commission of any proposed capital project which has the potential to exceed $1 million in cost. Such a project may not be pursued by an institution without the approval of the commission. An institution may not participate directly or indirectly with any public or private entity in any capital project which has the potential to exceed $1 million in cost;
(13) Acquire legal services as are considered necessary, including representation of the commission, its institutions, employees and officers before any court or administrative body, notwithstanding any other provision of this code to the contrary. The counsel may be employed either on a salaried basis or on a reasonable fee basis. In addition, the commission may, but is not required to, call upon the Attorney General for legal assistance and representation as provided by law;
(14) Employ a Chancellor for Higher Education pursuant to section five of this article;
(15) Employ other staff as necessary and appropriate to carry out the duties and responsibilities of the commission and the council, in accordance with the provisions of article four of this chapter;
(16) Provide suitable offices in Charleston for the chancellor, vice chancellors and other staff;
(17) Advise and consent in the appointment of the presidents of the institutions of higher education under its jurisdiction pursuant to section six of this article. The role of the commission in approving an institutional president is to assure through personal interview that the person selected understands and is committed to achieving the goals and objectives as set forth in the institutional compact and in section one-a, article one of this chapter;
(18) Approve the total compensation package from all sources for presidents of institutions under its jurisdiction, as proposed by the governing boards. The governing boards must obtain approval from the commission of the total compensation package both when institutional presidents are employed initially and afterward when any change is made in the amount of the total compensation package;
(19) Establish and implement the policy of the state to assure that parents and students have sufficient information at the earliest possible age on which to base academic decisions about what is required for students to be successful in college, other post-secondary education and careers related, as far as possible, to results from current assessment tools in use in West Virginia;
(20) Approve and implement a uniform standard jointly with the council to determine which students shall be placed in remedial or developmental courses. The standard shall be aligned with college admission tests and assessment tools used in West Virginia and shall be applied uniformly by the governing boards throughout the public higher education system. The chancellors shall develop a clear, concise explanation of the standard which they shall communicate to the State Board of Education and the State Superintendent of Schools;
(21) Review and approve or disapprove capital projects as described in subdivision (11) of this subsection;
(22) Jointly with the council, develop and implement an oversight plan to manage systemwide technology such as the following:
(A) Expanding distance learning and technology networks to enhance teaching and learning, promote access to quality educational offerings with minimum duplication of effort; and
(B) Increasing the delivery of instruction to nontraditional students, to provide services to business and industry and increase the management capabilities of the higher education system.
(C) Notwithstanding any other provision of law or this code to the contrary, the council, commission and State Institutions of Higher Education are not subject to the jurisdiction of the Chief Technology Officer for any purpose;
(23) Establish and implement policies and procedures to ensure that students may transfer and apply toward the requirements for a bachelor's degree the maximum number of credits earned at any regionally accredited in-state or out-of-state community and technical college with as few requirements to repeat courses or to incur additional costs as is consistent with sound academic policy;
(24) Establish and implement policies and procedures to ensure that students may transfer and apply toward the requirements for a degree the maximum number of credits earned at any regionally accredited in-state or out-of-state higher education institution with as few requirements to repeat courses or to incur additional costs as is consistent with sound academic policy;
(25) Establish and implement policies and procedures to ensure that students may transfer and apply toward the requirements for a master's degree the maximum number of credits earned at any regionally accredited in-state or out-of-state higher education institution with as few requirements to repeat courses or to incur additional costs as is consistent with sound academic policy;
(26) Establish and implement policies and programs, in cooperation with the council and the institutions of higher education, through which students who have gained knowledge and skills through employment, participation in education and training at vocational schools or other education institutions, or Internet- based education programs, may demonstrate by competency-based assessment that they have the necessary knowledge and skills to be granted academic credit or advanced placement standing toward the requirements of an associate degree or a bachelor's degree at a State Institution of Higher Education;
(27) Seek out and attend regional, national and international meetings and forums on education and workforce development-related topics, as in the commission's discretion is critical for the performance of their duties as members, for the purpose of keeping abreast of education trends and policies to aid it in developing the policies for this state to meet the established education goals and objectives pursuant to section one-a, article one of this chapter;
(28) Develop, establish and implement a rule for higher education governing boards and institutions to follow when considering capital projects. The guidelines shall assure that the governing boards and institutions do not approve or promote capital projects involving private sector businesses which would have the effect of reducing property taxes on existing properties or avoiding, in whole or in part, the full amount of taxes which would be due on newly developed or future properties;
(29) Consider and submit to the appropriate agencies of the executive and legislative branches of state government a budget that reflects recommended appropriations from the commission and the institutions under its jurisdiction. The commission shall submit as part of its budget proposal the separate recommended appropriations it received from the council, both for the council and the institutions under the council's jurisdiction. The commission annually shall submit the proposed institutional allocations based on each institution's progress toward meeting the goals of its institutional compact;
(30) The commission has the authority to assess institutions under its jurisdiction, including the State Institutions of Higher Education known as Marshall University and West Virginia University, for the payment of expenses of the commission or for the funding of statewide higher education services, obligations or initiatives related to the goals set forth for the provision of public higher education in the state;
(31) Promulgate rules allocating reimbursement of appropriations, if made available by the Legislature, to institutions of higher education for qualifying noncapital expenditures incurred in the provision of services to students with physical, learning or severe sensory disabilities;
(32) Make appointments to boards and commissions where this code requires appointments from the State College System Board of Directors or the University of West Virginia System Board of Trustees which were abolished effective June 13, 2000, except in those cases where the required appointment has a specific and direct connection to the provision of community and technical college education, the appointment shall be made by the council. Notwithstanding any provisions of this code to the contrary, the commission or the council may appoint one of its own members or any other citizen of the state as its designee. The commission and council shall appoint the total number of persons in the aggregate required to be appointed by these previous governing boards;
(33) Pursuant to the provisions of article three-a, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code and section six, article one of this chapter, promulgate rules as necessary or expedient to fulfill the purposes of this chapter. The commission and the council shall promulgate a uniform joint legislative rule for the purpose of standardizing, as much as possible, the administration of personnel matters among the institutions of higher education;
(34) Determine when a joint rule among the governing boards of the institutions under its jurisdiction is necessary or required by law and, in those instances, in consultation with the governing boards of all the institutions under its jurisdiction, promulgate the joint rule;
(35) In consultation with the governing boards of Marshall University and West Virginia University, implement a policy jointly with the council whereby course credit earned at a community and technical college transfers for program credit at any other State Institution of Higher Education and is not limited to fulfilling a general education requirement;
(36) Promulgate a joint rule with the council establishing tuition and fee policy for all institutions of higher education, other than State Institutions of Higher Education known as Marshall University and West Virginia University which are subject to the provisions of section one, article ten of this chapter. The rule shall include, but is not limited to, the following:
(A) Comparisons with peer institutions;
(B) Differences among institutional missions;
(C) Strategies for promoting student access;
(D) Consideration of charges to out-of-state students; and
(E) Such other policies as the commission and council consider appropriate;
(37) Implement general disease awareness initiatives to educate parents and students, particularly dormitory residents, about meningococcal meningitis; the potentially life-threatening dangers of contracting the infection; behaviors and activities that can increase risks; measures that can be taken to prevent contact or infection; and potential benefits of vaccination. The commission shall encourage institutions that provide medical care to students to provide access to the vaccine for those who wish to receive it; and
(38) Notwithstanding any other provision of this code to the contrary, sell, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or part of any real property which it may own, either by contract or at public auction, and to retain the proceeds of any such sale or lease: Provided, That:
(A) The commission may not sell, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of any real property without first:
(i) Providing notice to the public in the county in which the real property is located by a Class II legal advertisement pursuant to section two, article three, chapter fifty-nine of this code;
(ii) Holding a public hearing on the issue in the county in which the real property is located; and
(iii) Providing notice to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance; and
(B) Any proceeds from the sale, lease, conveyance or other disposal of real property that is used jointly by institutions or for statewide programs under the jurisdiction of the commission or the council shall be transferred to the General Revenue Fund of the state.
(b) In addition to the powers and duties listed in subsection (a) of this section, the commission has the following general powers and duties related to its role in developing, articulating and overseeing the implementation of the public policy agenda:
(1) Planning and policy leadership, including a distinct and visible role in setting the state's policy agenda and in serving as an agent of change;
(2) Policy analysis and research focused on issues affecting the system as a whole or a geographical region thereof;
(3) Development and implementation of institutional mission definitions, including use of incentive funds to influence institutional behavior in ways that are consistent with public priorities;
(4) Academic program review and approval for institutions under its jurisdiction, including the use of institutional missions as a template to judge the appropriateness of both new and existing programs and the authority to implement needed changes. The commission's authority to review and approve academic programs for either the State Institution of Higher Education known as Marshall University or West Virginia University is limited to programs that are proposed to be offered at a new location not presently served by that institution;
(5) Distribution of funds appropriated to the commission, including incentive and performance-based funding;
(6) Administration of state and federal student aid programs under the supervision of the vice chancellor for administration, including promulgation of any rules necessary to administer those programs;
(7) Serving as the agent to receive and disburse public funds when a governmental entity requires designation of a statewide higher education agency for this purpose;
(8) Development, establishment and implementation of information, assessment and accountability systems, including maintenance of statewide data systems that facilitate long-term planning and accurate measurement of strategic outcomes and performance indicators;
(9) Jointly with the council, developing, establishing and implementing policies for licensing and oversight for both public and private degree-granting and nondegree-granting institutions that provide post-secondary education courses or programs in the state pursuant to the findings and policy recommendations required by section eleven of this article;
(10) Development, implementation and oversight of statewide and regionwide projects and initiatives related to providing post- secondary education at the baccalaureate level and above such as those using funds from federal categorical programs or those using incentive and performance-based funding from any source; and
(11) Quality assurance that intersects with all other duties of the commission particularly in the areas of research, data collection and analysis, planning, policy analysis, program review and approval, budgeting and information and accountability systems.
(c) In addition to the powers and duties provided in subsections (a) and (b) of this section and any other powers and duties as may be assigned to it by law, the commission has such other powers and duties as may be necessary or expedient to accomplish the purposes of this article.
(d) The commission is authorized to withdraw specific powers of any governing board of an institution under its jurisdiction for a period not to exceed two years, if the commission makes a determination that:
(1) The governing board has failed for two consecutive years to develop an institutional compact as required in article one of this chapter;
(2) The commission has received information, substantiated by independent audit, of significant mismanagement or failure to carry out the powers and duties of the board of Governors according to state law; or
(3) Other circumstances which, in the view of the commission, severely limit the capacity of the board of Governors to carry out its duties and responsibilities.
The period of withdrawal of specific powers may not exceed two years during which time the commission is authorized to take steps necessary to reestablish the conditions for restoration of sound, stable and responsible institutional governance.
ARTICLE 2B. WEST VIRGINIA COUNCIL FOR COMMUNITY AND TECHNICAL COLLEGE EDUCATION.

§18B-2B-6. Powers and duties of the council.
(a) The council is the sole agency responsible for administration of vocational-technical-occupational education and community and technical college education in the state. The council has jurisdiction and authority over the community and technical colleges and the statewide network of independently accredited community and technical colleges as a whole, including community and technical college education programs as defined in section two, article one of this chapter.
(b) The council shall propose rules pursuant to section six, article one of this chapter and article three-a, chapter twenty- nine-a of this code to implement the provisions of this section and applicable provisions of article one-d of this chapter:
(1) To implement the provisions of article one-d of this chapter relevant to community and technical colleges, the council may propose rules jointly with the commission or separately and may choose to address all components of the accountability system in a single rule or may propose additional rules to cover specific components;
(2) The rules pertaining to financing policy and benchmarks and indicators required by this section shall be filed with the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability by October 1, 2008. Nothing in this subsection requires other rules of the council to be promulgated again under the procedure set forth in article three-a, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code unless such rules are rescinded, revised, altered or amended; and
(3) The Legislature finds that an emergency exists and, therefore, the council shall propose an emergency rule or rules to implement the provisions of this section relating to the financing policy and benchmarks and indicators in accordance with section six, article one of this chapter and article three-a, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code by October 1, 2008. The emergency rule or rules may not be implemented without prior approval of the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability.
(c) The council has the following powers and duties relating to the authority established in subsection (a) of this section:
(1) Develop, oversee and advance the public policy agenda for community and technical college education for the purpose of accomplishing the mandates of this section, including, but not limited to, the following:
(A) Achieving the goals and objectives established in articles one and one-d of this chapter;
(B) Addressing the goals and objectives contained in the institutional compacts created pursuant to section seven, article one-d of this chapter; and
(C) Developing and implementing the master plan described in section five, article one-d of this chapter;
(2) Propose a legislative rule pursuant to subsection (b) of this section and article three-a, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code to develop and implement a financing policy for community and technical college education in West Virginia. The rule shall meet the following criteria:
(A) Provide an adequate level of education and general funding for institutions pursuant to section five, article one-a of this chapter;
(B) Serve to maintain institutional assets, including, but not limited to, human and physical resources and deferred maintenance;
(C) Establish a plan for strategic funding to strengthen capacity for support of community and technical college education; and
(D) Establish a plan that measures progress and provides performance-based funding to institutions which make significant progress in the following specific areas:
(i) Achieving the objectives and priorities established in article one-d of this chapter;
(ii) Serving targeted populations, especially working age adults twenty-five years of age and over;
(iii) Providing access to high cost, high demand technical programs in every region of the state;
(iv) Increasing the percentage of functionally literate adults in every region of the state; and
(v) Providing high quality community and technical college education services to residents of every region of the state.
(3) Create a policy leadership structure relating to community and technical college education capable of the following actions:
(A) Developing, building public consensus around and sustaining attention to a long-range public policy agenda. In developing the agenda, the council shall seek input from the Legislature and the Governor and specifically from the State Board of Education and local school districts in order to create the necessary linkages to assure smooth, effective and seamless movement of students through the public education and post- secondary education systems and to ensure that the needs of public school courses and programs can be fulfilled by the graduates produced and the programs offered;
(B) Ensuring that the governing boards of the institutions under the council's jurisdiction carry out their duty effectively to govern the individual institutions of higher education; and
(C) Holding each community and technical college and the statewide network of independently accredited community and technical colleges as a whole accountable for accomplishing their missions and achieving the goals and objectives established in articles one, one-d, and three-c of this chapter;
(4) Develop for inclusion in the statewide public agenda, a plan for raising education attainment, increasing adult literacy, promoting workforce and economic development and ensuring access to advanced education for the citizens of West Virginia;
(5) Provide statewide leadership, coordination, support, and technical assistance to the community and technical colleges and to provide a focal point for visible and effective advocacy for their work and for the public policy agendas approved by the commission and council.
(6) Review and adopt annually all institutional compacts for the community and technical colleges pursuant to the provisions of section seven, article one-d of this chapter;
(7) Fulfill the mandates of the accountability system established in article one-d of this chapter and report on progress in meeting established goals, objectives, and priorities to the elected leadership of the state;
(8) Propose a legislative rule pursuant to subsection (b) of this section and article three-a, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code to establish benchmarks and indicators in accordance with the provisions of this subsection;
(9) Establish and implement the benchmarks and performance indicators necessary to measure institutional progress:
(A) In meeting state goals, objectives, and priorities established in articles one and one-d of this chapter;
(B) In carrying out institutional missions; and
(C) In meeting the essential conditions established in article three-c of this chapter;
(10) Collect and analyze data relating to the performance of community and technical colleges in every region of West Virginia and report periodically or as directed to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability on the progress in meeting the goals and objectives established in articles one and one-d of this chapter.
Additionally, the council shall report annually during the January interim meetings on a date and at a time and location to be determined by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Delegates.
The annual report shall address at least the following:
(A) The performance of the community and technical college network during the previous fiscal year, including, but not limited to, progress in meeting goals stated in the compacts and progress of the institutions and the network as a whole in meeting the goals and objectives established in articles one and one-d of this chapter;
(B) The priorities established for capital investment needs pursuant to subdivision (11) of this subsection and the justification for such priority; and
(C) Recommendations of the council for statutory changes necessary or expedient to achieve established state goals and objectives.
(11) Establish a formal process for identifying needs for capital investments and for determining priorities for these investments for consideration by the Governor and the Legislature as part of the appropriation request process. Notwithstanding the language in subdivision eleven, subsection a, section four, article one-b of this chapter, the commission is not a part of the process for identifying needs for capital investments for the statewide network of independently accredited community and technical colleges.
(12) Draw upon the expertise available within the Governor's Workforce Investment Office and the West Virginia Development Office as a resource in the area of workforce development and training;
(13) Acquire legal services that are considered necessary, including representation of the council, its institutions, employees and officers before any court or administrative body, notwithstanding any other provision of this code to the contrary. The counsel may be employed either on a salaried basis or on a reasonable fee basis. In addition, the council may, but is not required to, call upon the Attorney General for legal assistance and representation as provided by law;
(14) Employ a chancellor for community and technical college education pursuant to section three of this article;
(15) Employ other staff as necessary and appropriate to carry out the duties and responsibilities of the council consistent with the provisions of section two, article four of this chapter;
(16) Employ other staff as necessary and appropriate to carry out the duties and responsibilities of the council who are employed solely by the council;
(17) Provide suitable offices in Charleston for the chancellor and other staff;
(18) Approve the total compensation package from all sources for presidents of community and technical colleges, as proposed by the governing boards. The governing boards must obtain approval from the council of the total compensation package both when presidents are employed initially and subsequently when any change is made in the amount of the total compensation package;
(19) Establish and implement policies and procedures to ensure that students may transfer and apply toward the requirements for a degree the maximum number of credits earned at any regionally accredited in-state or out-of-state higher education institution with as few requirements to repeat courses or to incur additional costs as is consistent with sound academic policy;
(20) Establish and implement policies and programs, jointly with the community and technical colleges, through which students who have gained knowledge and skills through employment, participation in education and training at vocational schools or other education institutions, or Internet-based education programs, may demonstrate by competency-based assessment that they have the necessary knowledge and skills to be granted academic credit or advanced placement standing toward the requirements of an associate degree or a bachelor's degree at a State Institution of Higher Education;
(21) Seek out and attend regional and national meetings and forums on education and workforce development-related topics, as council members consider critical for the performance of their duties. The council shall keep abreast of national and regional community and technical college education trends and policies to aid members in developing the policies for this state that meet the education goals and objectives established in articles one and one-d of this chapter;
(22) Assess community and technical colleges for the payment of expenses of the council or for the funding of statewide services, obligations or initiatives related specifically to the provision of community and technical college education;
(23) Promulgate rules allocating reimbursement of appropriations, if made available by the Legislature, to community and technical colleges for qualifying noncapital expenditures incurred in the provision of services to students with physical, learning or severe sensory disabilities;
(24) Assume the prior authority of the commission in examining and approving tuition and fee increase proposals submitted by community and technical college governing boards as provided in section one, article ten of this chapter.
(25) Develop and submit to the commission, a single budget for community and technical college education that reflects recommended appropriations for community and technical colleges and that meets the following conditions:
(A) Incorporates the provisions of the financing rule mandated by this section to measure and provide performance funding to institutions which achieve or make significant progress toward achieving established state objectives and priorities;
(B) Considers the progress of each institution toward meeting the essential conditions set forth in section three, article three-c of this chapter, including independent accreditation; and
(C) Considers the progress of each institution toward meeting the goals objectives, and priorities established in article one-d of this chapter and its approved institutional compact.
(26) Administer and distribute the independently accredited community and technical college development account;
(27) Establish a plan of strategic funding to strengthen capacity for support and assure delivery of high quality community and technical college education in all regions of the state;
(28) Foster coordination among all state-level, regional and local entities providing post-secondary vocational education or workforce development and coordinate all public institutions and entities that have a community and technical college mission;
(29) Assume the principal responsibility for oversight of those community and technical colleges seeking independent accreditation and for holding governing boards accountable for meeting the essential conditions pursuant to article three-c of this chapter;
(30) Advise and consent in the appointment of the presidents of the community and technical colleges pursuant to section six, article one-b of this chapter. The role of the council in approving a president is to assure through personal interview that the person selected understands and is committed to achieving the goals and objectives established in the institutional compact and in articles one, one-d, and three-c of this chapter;
(31) Provide a single, statewide link for current and prospective employers whose needs extend beyond one locality;
(32) Provide a mechanism capable of serving two or more institutions to facilitate joint problem-solving in areas including, but not limited to, the following:
(A) Defining faculty roles and personnel policies;
(B) Delivering high-cost technical education programs across the state;
(C) Providing one-stop service for workforce training to be delivered by multiple institutions; and
(D) Providing opportunities for resource-sharing and collaborative ventures;
(33) Provide support and technical assistance to develop, coordinate, and deliver effective and efficient community and technical college education programs and services in all regions of the state;
(34) Assist the community and technical colleges in establishing and promoting links with business, industry and labor in the geographic areas for which each community and technical college is responsible;
(35) Develop alliances among the community and technical colleges for resource sharing, joint development of courses and courseware, and sharing of expertise and staff development;
(36) Serve aggressively as an advocate for development of a seamless curriculum;
(37) Cooperate with all providers of education services in the state to remove barriers relating to a seamless system of public and higher education and to transfer and articulation between and among community and technical colleges, state colleges and universities and public education, preschool through grade twelve;
(38) Encourage the most efficient use of available resources;
(39) Coordinate with the commission in informing public school students, their parents and teachers of the academic preparation that students need in order to be prepared adequately to succeed in their selected fields of study and career plans, including presentation of academic career fairs;
(40) Jointly with the commission, approve and implement a uniform standard, as developed by the chancellors, to determine which students shall be placed in remedial or developmental courses. The standard shall be aligned with college admission tests and assessment tools used in West Virginia and shall be applied uniformly by the governing boards throughout the public higher education system. The chancellors shall develop a clear, concise explanation of the standard which the governing boards shall communicate to the State Board of Education and the State Superintendent of Schools;
(41) Develop and implement strategies and curriculum for providing developmental education which shall be applied by any State Institution of Higher Education providing developmental education.
(42) Develop a statewide system of community and technical college programs and services in every region of West Virginia for competency-based certification of knowledge and skills, including a statewide competency-based associate degree program;
(43) Review and approve all institutional master plans for the community and technical colleges pursuant to section four, article two-a of this chapter;
(44) Propose rules for promulgation pursuant to subsection (b) of this section and article three-a, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code that are necessary or expedient for the effective and efficient performance of community and technical colleges in the state;
(45) In its sole discretion, transfer any rule under its jurisdiction, other than a legislative rule, to the jurisdiction of the governing boards who may rescind, revise, alter or amend any rule transferred pursuant to rules adopted by the council and provide technical assistance to the institutions under its jurisdiction to aid them in promulgating rules;
(46) Develop for inclusion in the higher education report card, as defined in section eight, article one-d of this chapter, a separate section on community and technical colleges. This section shall include, but is not limited to, evaluation of the institutions based upon the benchmarks and indicators developed in subdivision (9) of this subsection;
(47) Facilitate continuation of the Advantage Valley Community College Network under the leadership and direction of Marshall Community and Technical College;
(48) Initiate and facilitate creation of other regional networks of affiliated community and technical colleges that the council finds to be appropriate and in the best interests of the citizens to be served;
(49) Develop with the State Board of Education plans for secondary and post-secondary vocational-technical-occupational and adult basic education, including, but not limited to the following:
(A) Policies to strengthen vocational-technical-occupational and adult basic education; and
(B) Programs and methods to assist in the improvement, modernization and expanded delivery of vocational-technical- occupational and adult basic education programs;
(50) Distribute federal vocational education funding provided under the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act of 1998, PL 105-332, with an emphasis on distributing financial assistance among secondary and post-secondary vocational- technical-occupational and adult basic education programs to help meet the public policy agenda.
In distributing funds the council shall use the following guidelines:
(A) The State Board of Education shall continue to be the fiscal agent for federal vocational education funding;
(B) The percentage split between the State Board of Education and the council shall be determined by rule promulgated by the council under the provisions of article three-a, chapter twenty- nine-a of this code. The council shall first obtain the approval of the State Board of Education before proposing a rule;
(51) Collaborate, cooperate and interact with all secondary and post-secondary vocational-technical-occupational and adult basic education programs in the state, including the programs assisted under the federal Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act of 1998, PL 105-332, and the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, to promote the development of seamless curriculum and the elimination of duplicative programs;
(52) Coordinate the delivery of vocational-technical- occupational and adult basic education in a manner designed to make the most effective use of available public funds to increase accessibility for students;
(53) Analyze and report to the State Board of Education on the distribution of spending for vocational-technical- occupational and adult basic education in the state and on the availability of vocational-technical-occupational and adult basic education activities and services within the state;
(54) Promote the delivery of vocational-technical-occupational education, adult basic education and community and technical college education programs in the state which emphasize the involvement of business, industry and labor organizations;
(55) Promote public participation in the provision of vocational-technical-occupational education, adult basic education and community and technical education at the local level, emphasizing programs which involve the participation of local employers and labor organizations;
(56) Promote equal access to quality vocational- technical- occupational education, adult basic education and community and technical college education programs to handicapped and disadvantaged individuals, adults in need of training and retraining, single parents, homemakers, participants in programs designed to eliminate sexual bias and stereotyping and criminal offenders serving in correctional institutions;
(57) Meet annually between the months of October and December with the Advisory Committee of Community and Technical College Presidents created pursuant to section eight of this article to discuss those matters relating to community and technical college education in which advisory committee members or the council may have an interest;
(58) Accept and expend any gift, grant, contribution, bequest, endowment or other money for the purposes of this article;
(59) Assume the powers set out in section nine of this article. The rules previously promulgated by the State College System Board of Directors pursuant to that section and transferred to the commission are hereby transferred to the council and shall continue in effect until rescinded, revised, altered or amended by the council;
(60) Pursuant to the provisions of subsection (b) of this section and article three-a, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code, promulgate a uniform joint legislative rule with the commission for the purpose of standardizing, as much as possible, the administration of personnel matters among the institutions of higher education;
(61) Determine when a joint rule among the governing boards of the community and technical colleges is necessary or required by law and, in those instances and in consultation with the governing boards, promulgate the joint rule;
(62) Promulgate a joint rule with the commission establishing tuition and fee policy for all institutions of higher education. The rule shall include, but is not limited to, the following:
(A) Comparisons with peer institutions;
(B) Differences among institutional missions;
(C) Strategies for promoting student access;
(D) Consideration of charges to out-of-state students; and
(E) Any other policies the commission and council consider appropriate;
(63) In cooperation with the West Virginia Division of Highways, study a method for increasing the signage signifying community and technical college locations along the state interstate highways, and report to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability regarding any recommendations and required costs; and
(64) Implement a policy jointly with the commission whereby any course credit earned at a community and technical college transfers for program credit at any other State Institution of Higher Education and is not limited to fulfilling a general education requirement.
(d) In addition to the powers and duties listed in subsections (a), (b) and (c) of this section, the council has the following general powers and duties related to its role in developing, articulating and overseeing the implementation of the public policy agenda for community and technical colleges:
(1) Planning and policy leadership including a distinct and visible role in setting the state's policy agenda for the delivery of community and technical college education and in serving as an agent of change;
(2) Policy analysis and research focused on issues affecting the community and technical college network as a whole or a geographical region thereof;
(3) Development and implementation of each community and technical college mission definition including use of incentive and performance funds to influence institutional behavior in ways that are consistent with achieving established state goals, objectives, and priorities;
(4) Academic program review and approval for the institutions under its jurisdiction, including the use of institutional missions as a template to judge the appropriateness of both new and existing programs and the authority to implement needed changes;
(5) Development of budget and allocation of resources for institutions delivering community and technical college education, including reviewing and approving institutional operating and capital budgets and distributing incentive and performance-based funding;
(6) Acting as the agent to receive and disburse public funds related to community and technical college education when a governmental entity requires designation of a statewide higher education agency for this purpose;
(7) Development, establishment and implementation of information, assessment and internal accountability systems, including maintenance of statewide data systems that facilitate long-term planning and accurate measurement of strategic outcomes and performance indicators for community and technical colleges;
(8) Jointly with the commission, development, establishment and implementation of policies for licensing and oversight of both public and private degree-granting and nondegree-granting institutions that provide post-secondary education courses or programs.
(9) Development, implementation and oversight of statewide and regionwide projects and initiatives related specifically to providing community and technical college education such as those using funds from federal categorical programs or those using incentive and performance-based funding from any source; and
(10) Quality assurance that intersects with all other duties of the council particularly in the areas of planning, policy analysis, program review and approval, budgeting and information and accountability systems.
(e) The council may withdraw specific powers of a governing board under its jurisdiction for a period not to exceed two years if the council makes a determination that any of the following conditions exist:
(1) The governing board has failed for two consecutive years to develop an institutional compact as required in section seven, article one-d of this chapter;
(2) The council has received information, substantiated by independent audit, of significant mismanagement or failure to carry out the powers and duties of the board of Governors according to state law; or
(3) Other circumstances which, in the view of the council, severely limit the capacity of the board of Governors to carry out its duties and responsibilities.
The period of withdrawal of specific powers may not exceed two years during which time the council is authorized to take steps necessary to reestablish the conditions for restoration of sound, stable and responsible institutional governance.
(f) In addition to the powers and duties provided for in subsections (a), (b), (c) and (d) of this section and any others assigned to it by law, the council has those powers and duties necessary or expedient to accomplish the purposes of this article; and
(g) When the council and commission, each, is required to consent, cooperate, collaborate or provide input into the actions of the other the following conditions apply:
(1) The body acting first shall convey its decision in the matter to the other body with a request for concurrence in the action;
(2) The commission or the council, as the receiving body, shall place the proposal on its agenda and shall take final action within sixty days of the date when the request for concurrence is received; and
(3) If the receiving body fails to take final action within sixty days, the original proposal stands and is binding on both the commission and the council.
CHAPTER 18C. STUDENT LOANS; SCHOLARSHIPS AND STATE AID.

ARTICLE 6. WEST VIRGINIA ENGINEERING, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM.
§18C-6-2. Definitions.
When used in this article the following terms have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
(a) "ABET" means the accrediting board for engineering and technology.
(b) "ABET approved engineering major" means a major approved by ABET's engineering accreditation commission.
(c) "ABET approved technology major" means a major approved by ABET's technology accreditation commission.
(d) "Eligible institution of higher education" means:
(1) A State Institution of Higher Education as defined in section two, article one, chapter eighteen-b of this code; and (2) Alderson-Broaddus College, Appalachian Bible College, Bethany College, the College of West Virginia, Davis and Elkins College, Ohio Valley College, Salem-Teikyo College, the University of Charleston, West Virginia Wesleyan College and Wheeling Jesuit College, all in West Virginia, and any other institution of higher education in this state, public or private, approved by the senior administrator: Provided, That if any institution listed in this paragraph is not regionally accredited, it shall may not be included as an eligible institution;
(e) "Engineering, science and technology-related field" means any position for which the employer provides a written statement that engineering, science or technology skill, knowledge and ability, as evidenced by the attainment of a certificate, associate or baccalaureate degree in engineering, science or technology, are preferred or required or where an industry-based certification requirement exists.
(f) "Industry-based certification" means any special certification required, necessary or deemed preferred for employment in the field.
(g) "Science" means a major in biology, chemistry, computer science, physics or mathematics at an eligible institution of higher education or any other major as approved by the higher education governing boards by rule.
ARTICLE 7. WEST VIRGINIA PROVIDING REAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR
MAXIMIZING IN-STATE STUDENT EXCELLENCE SCHOLARSHIP
PROGRAM.
§18C-7-3. Definitions.

(a) General. -- For the purposes of this article, terms have the meaning ascribed to them in section two, article one of this chapter, unless the context in which the term is used clearly requires a different meaning or a specific definition is provided in this section.
(b) Definitions. -- (1) "Eligible institution" means:
(A) A State Institution of Higher Education as defined in section two, article one, chapter eighteen-b of this code;
(B) Alderson-Broaddus College, Appalachian Bible College, Bethany College, Davis and Elkins College, Mountain State University, Ohio Valley University, the University of Charleston, West Virginia Wesleyan College and Wheeling Jesuit University, all in West Virginia. Any institution listed in this subdivision ceases to be an eligible institution if it meets either of the following conditions:
(i) It loses regional accreditation; or
(ii) It changes its status as a private, not-for-profit institution;
(C) Any other public or private regionally accredited institution in this state approved by the commission.
(2) "Tuition" means the quarter, semester or term charges imposed by an eligible State Institution of Higher Education and, additionally, all mandatory fees required as a condition of enrollment by all students. For the purposes of this article, the following conditions apply:
(A) West Virginia University, Potomac State College and West Virginia University Institute of Technology are considered separate institutions for purposes of determining tuition rates; and
(B) The tuition amount paid by undergraduate health sciences students at West Virginia University is considered to be the same as the amount of tuition paid by all other West Virginia University undergraduate students.
(3) "Enrolled" means either currently enrolled or in the process of enrolling in an eligible institution.

CHAPTER 30. PROFESSIONS AND OCCUPATIONS.

ARTICLE 32. SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGISTS AND AUDIOLOGISTS.
§30-32-17. Disciplinary actions.

(a) The board may impose any of the following disciplinary actions in those instances in which an applicant for a license or a licensee has been guilty of conduct which has endangered, or is likely to endanger the health, welfare or safety of the public:
(1) Refuse to issue or renew a license;
(2) Issue a letter of reprimand or concern;
(3) Require restitution of fees;
(4) Impose probationary conditions;
(5) Impose a civil penalty not to exceed $500; or
(6) Suspend or revoke a license.
(b) The board may take disciplinary actions for conduct that may result from but not necessarily be limited to:
(1) Fraudulently or deceptively obtaining or attempting to obtain a license or a provisional license for the applicant, licensee, holder or for another;
(2) Fraudulently or deceptively using a license or provisional license;
(3) Altering a license or provisional license;
(4) Aiding or abetting unlicensed practice; and
(5) Committing fraud or deceit in the practice of speech- language pathology or audiology, including, but not limited to:
(i) Willfully making or filing a false report or record in the practice of speech-language pathology or audiology;
(ii) Submitting a false statement to collect a fee; or
(iii) Obtaining a fee through fraud or misrepresentation.
(6) Using or promoting or causing the use of any misleading, deceiving, improbable or untruthful advertising matter, promotional literature, testimonial, guarantee, warranty, label, brand, insignia or any other representation;
(7) Falsely representing the use or availability of services or advice of a physician;
(8) Misrepresenting the applicant, licensee or holder by using the word "doctor" or any similar word, abbreviation or symbol if the use is not accurate or if the degree was not obtained from a regionally an accredited institution;
(9) Committing any act of dishonorable, immoral or unprofessional conduct while engaging in the practice of speech- language pathology or audiology;
(10) Engaging in illegal, incompetent or habitually negligent practice;
(11) Providing professional services while:
(i) Mentally incompetent;
(ii) Under the influence of alcohol;
(iii) Using any narcotic or controlled dangerous substance or other drug that is in excess of therapeutic amounts or without valid medical indication; or
(iv) Having a serious contagious disease.
(12) Providing services or promoting the sale of devices, appliances or products to a person who cannot reasonably be expected to benefit from such services, devices, appliances or products;
(13) Violating any provision of this article, or any lawful order given, or rule adopted by the board;
(14) Being convicted of or pleading guilty or nolo contendere to a felony or to a crime involving moral turpitude, whether or not any appeal or other proceeding is pending to have the conviction or plea set aside; or
(15) Being disciplined by a licensing or disciplinary authority of any other state or country or convicted or disciplined by a court of any state or country for an act that would be grounds for disciplinary action under this section.



NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to provide clarification for eligibility for teacher certification and to help alleviate the shortage of certified teachers in West Virginia.

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