WEST virginia Legislature

2017 regular session

Introduced

House Bill 2031

By Delegate Folk

[Introduced February 8, 2017; Referred
to the Committee on Education then Finance.]

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §18A-1-3, eliminating requirements that state provide for professional training and development of teachers; redirecting those funds to the Public Employees Insurance Agency; and providing that professional development in public schools shall be at discretion of county school boards.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §18A-1-3, to read as follows:

ARTICLE 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS.

§18A-1-3.  State payment for teacher and principal training or professional development eliminated.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this code to the contrary, any requirements that the state pay for training or professional development for teachers and principals is eliminated, and funds appropriated or collected by the state for teacher or principal training or professional development shall be directed to the Public Employees Insurance Agency:  Provided, That this article shall not be construed to create an unfunded mandate to county school systems.  From the effective date of this article any professional development in the public schools of West Virginia shall be optional and at the discretion of county school boards.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to eliminate state payment for teacher and principal training, and to require that the money saved be directed to the Public Employees Insurance Agency.  Professional development in public schools shall be optional and at the discretion of county school boards.

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