H. B. 2014
(By Delegates Williams, Beach, DeLong,
Perry, Martin and Cann)
[Introduced
February 9, 2005
; referred to the
Committee on Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security, then
Education.]
A BILL to Bill Titleamend the code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by
adding thereto a new section, designated §18-2E-8e, relating
to Title Languageveteran's honors funeral assistant community service
programs; making legislative findings and stating purpose;
requiring certain information and assistance from state board;
requiring county board policy and specifying minimum
provisions; limiting county board responsibility; and
encouraging county board collaboration with organizations to
assist programs.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That Enacting Sectionthe code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended
by adding thereto a new section, designated §18-2E-8e, to read as
follows:
ARTICLE 2E. HIGH QUALITY EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS.
§18-2E-8e. Veteran's honors funeral assistant community service program.
(a) The Legislature finds that serving in the armed forces in
defense of the life, liberty and pursuit of happiness enjoyed in
our democratic society involves a tremendous sacrifice on the
behalf of those who serve, often at the cost of their own lives.
The Legislature further finds that it is a fitting tribute to those
who have served in the armed forces and the families who have
shared in their sacrifice to honor that service and that sacrifice
in the most respectful manner. The Legislature further finds that
it is often difficult for the families of deceased veterans who
wish to lay their loved ones finally to rest in a military honors
funeral to find a bugler to sound their final Taps. Finally, the
Legislature finds that organizations within the state and
nationally, such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American
Legion, Bugles Across America and many others, have recognized the
difficulty of finding buglers to sound Taps at military honors
funerals and may be able to assist. Therefore, the purpose of this
section is to facilitate collaboration that will encourage capable
young people to assist with the sounding of Taps in military
funerals honoring our veterans and, thereby, develop a better
understanding of their sacrifices, a respect for their commitment
and an appreciation of the privileges they have protected through
their service in the armed forces.
(b) The state board shall create, distribute and provide to every county board general guidelines, contact information and
technical assistance for the establishment of school level programs
that encourage capable students in grades six through twelve,
inclusive, to sound Taps on a standard or valved bugle, trumpet,
cornet or flugelhorn during military honors funerals held in this
state. The state board shall also distribute an appropriate
summary and contact information to the colleges and universities in
the state so that they may establish similar programs for their
students. Each county board shall establish a policy for the
implementation of these programs that addresses at least the
following:
(1) The distribution of information to music and band teachers
for their use in soliciting capable students and obtaining the
consent of their parents or guardians for voluntary registry as a
candidate able to sound Taps during military honors funerals held
within a reasonable distance from their residence;
(2) The credit toward community service or work based learning
requirements of the county that will be awarded to a student for
the registry and sounding of Taps during military honors funerals;
and
(3) The limits on the amount of regular classroom instruction
that a student may miss for the sounding of Taps during military
honors funerals to fulfill a community service or work based
learning requirement or, if none, on the excused absences that the student may accrue for this activity.
County boards are not responsible for any costs associated
with these programs, may not be required to provide or pay for
student transportation to funerals and are not liable for student
supervision while absent to participate in funerals. However,
county boards are encouraged to collaborate with organizations of
veterans and supporters of veterans to assist with the programs.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to increase the number of
buglers qualified to play taps at military honors funerals of
deceased veterans by encouraging the state board of education in
cooperation with county boards of education and colleges and
universities to develop programs for qualified student volunteers
to participate as buglers.
This section is new; therefore, strike-throughs and
underscoring have been omitted.