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Introduced Version House Bill 4343 History

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Key: Green = existing Code. Red = new code to be enacted
H. B. 4343


(By Delegates Poling, M., Paxton, Fragale, Perry,
Shaver, Stowers, Walker, D., Pethtel, Smith,


Lawrence and Moye)

[Introduced February 4, 2010; referred to the
Committee on Education.]


A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §18-10P-1, §18-10P-2, §18-10P-3, §18-10P-4 and §18-10P-5, all relating to increasing the awareness and understanding of labor history and the contributions of workers to the state, nation and world; designating the week following the Labor Day Holiday as Labor History Week for the State of West Virginia; requiring integration of instruction of labor history into the existing public school curriculum; legislative findings; and defined terms.

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 article, designated §18-10P-1, §18-10P-2, §18-10P-3, §18-10P-4 and §18-10P-5, all to read as follows:
ARTICLE 10P. LABOR HISTORY WEEK.
§l8-10P-1. Short title.
This article is known and may be cited as the "Labor History Week Act."
§l8-1OP-2. Legislative findings.
The Legislature finds that:
(1) According to the United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2008, one hundred twelve thousand West Virginians were represented by unions;
(2) Some of the most significant labor events in the history of the United States happened in West Virginia and our state has a rich labor history;
(3) The first Monday in September is recognized nationally and in our state as the Labor Day Holiday; and
(4) By designating the week following the Labor Day Holiday as Labor History Week, students and the public will have the opportunity to learn about labor history, collective bargaining, labor management relations and the contributions that workers have made to society and the workplace.
§18-10P-3. Purpose.
The purpose of this article is to increase awareness and understanding of labor history and the contributions of workers to the state, nation and world by designating the annual observance of the week following the Labor Day Holiday as Labor History Week.
§18-10P-4. Definitions.
(a) "Labor history" means the people, events and timelines of the development of workers' rights, labor management relations and collective bargaining. Labor history includes, but is not limited to, the contributions of specific workers, political leaders, workers' rights advocates, unions and union leaders.
(b) "Existing school curriculum" means all the courses and curricula currently in place at a public school.
(c) "Other school activities" means that school administrators and teachers have flexibility in designing and implementing labor history instruction as long as the instruction is consistent with the purpose of this article.
§18-10P-5. Labor History Week designated.
(a) The week following the Labor Day Holiday shall be designated as Labor History Week for the State of West Virginia.
(b) In recognition of and to further the purposes of Labor History Week, each public school shall provide instruction on labor history, including West Virginia labor history, during Labor History Week. The instruction shall be integrated into the existing school curriculum in a manner such as, but not limited to, creating new lesson plans, supplementing existing lesson plans, holding school assemblies or providing other school activities. The instruction may be delivered by school administrators, teachers or by guest speakers.
(c) State institutions of higher education are encouraged to conduct and promote activities that provide education, awareness and understanding of labor history.
(d) The Legislature is encouraged to annually recognize Labor History Week by introducing a concurrent resolution to:
(1) Recognize leaders in labor management relations;
(2) Recognize West Virginia's rich labor history;
(3) Recognize hard-working West Virginians; and
(4) Recognize the contributions working people have made to society and the workplace.
(e) Recognized resources for information, materials and speakers regarding labor history include, but are not limited to:
(1) The West Virginia Labor History Association;
(2) The West Virginia University Extension Service Institute for Labor Studies and Research;
(3) Labor management relations professors at higher education institutions;
(4) West Virginia Humanities Council;
(5) West Virginia Historical Society;
(6) West Virginia Division of Culture and History; and
(7) The West Virginia State American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (WV AFL-CIO).
(f) The provisions of this article are not intended to create a burden, financial or otherwise, for public schools, teachers or state institutions of higher education.




NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to increase awareness and understanding of labor history and the contributions of workers to the state, nation and world by designating the annual observance of the week following the Labor Day Holiday as Labor History Week. Moreover, this bill also requires public schools to provide instruction on labor history, including West Virginia labor history, during Labor History Week. Schools have flexibility in designing and implementing labor history instruction as long as the instruction is consistent with the purpose of this article. The expected cost of implementation of this legislation is minimal.

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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