WEST virginia legislature

2020 regular session

Committee Substitute

for

House Bill 4165

By Delegates Hanna, Higginbotham, Jennings, Bibby and Waxman

[Originating in the Committee on Education; February 11, 2020.]

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §18-2-8b, relating to public education; establishing the West Virginia Remembers Program; and authorizing the State Board of Education to promulgate a rule providing for maintaining of lists by county boards of veteran volunteers to speak in the public schools.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 2. STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION.

§18-2-8b. West Virginia Remembers Program; rulemaking.

(a) There is hereby created the “West Virginia Remembers Program” whereby children in the public schools may learn about military service, patriotism and courage in the defense of our country from veterans who volunteer to share their experiences in the educational setting. Participation in the program by classroom teachers is voluntary and may not be considered a course requirement or mandatory in any other way.

(b) The state board may promulgate a rule in accordance with §29A-3B-1 et seq. of this code to implement this section with regard to solicitation of speakers from veterans’ groups and maintenance of lists by county boards of available speakers.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to establish the West Virginia Remembers Program. The bill authorizes the State Board of Education to promulgate a rule providing for maintaining of lists by county boards of veteran volunteers to speak in the public schools.

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