WEST virginia legislature

2023 regular session

Committee Substitute

for

Senate Bill 222

By Senators Rucker and Hunt

[Originating in the Committee on Education; reported on January 26, 2023]

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §18-5-19e, relating to requiring the State Superintendent of Schools to create a taskforce to consider options for direct funding of adult education learning centers; declaring legislative findings; providing for membership and meetings of the taskforce; and establishing deadlines for the taskforce to be created and begin its meetings and for submitting a report of recommendations to the Legislature.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 5. COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION.

§18-5-19e. Adult education taskforce.

(a) The Legislature finds that:

(1) While adult learning centers are part of the West Virginia Department of Education, that department is not obligated to fund these adult learning centers;

(2) Funding for adult learning centers derives its income from many areas without any regularity;

(3) A taskforce to study and consider funding options, the existing funding sources, and the best approach to provide direct funding for the adult learning centers would stabilize the regularity of funding these centers.

(b) The State Superintendent shall establish in the West Virginia Department of Education a taskforce to consider options for direct funding of adult education learning centers.

(c) The taskforce shall include at a minimum the State Superintendent, or a designee of the State Superintendent, the head of the adult education learning centers, and geographically diverse representatives from the community, including, but not limited to, representation from business and the community college system, appointed by the State Superintendent.

(d) The State Superintendent shall determine the number of members of the taskforce and eligibility to serve.

(e) The meetings of the taskforce shall be open to the public and follow the Open Governmental Meetings Act.

(f) The taskforce shall be created and begin its meetings on or before July 1, 2023, and submit a report of recommendations to the Legislature by December 1, 2023.