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Introduced Version House Bill 2014 History

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