COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
FOR
H. B. 4145
(By Delegates
Iaquinta, Fleischauer, Eldridge and D. Walker
)
(Originating in the Committee on Education)
[February 17, 2010]
A BILL to
amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by
adding thereto a new section, designated §18B-4-9, relating to
providing services and facilities to assist student veterans
at state institutions of higher education.
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 §18B-4-9, to read as
follows:
ARTICLE 4. GENERAL ADMINISTRATION.
§18B-4-9. Development of services and facilities for student
veterans.
(a) Legislative findings. -- The Legislature finds that
veterans of the Armed Forces of the United States that attend
institutions of higher education in this state have many unique
needs, issues and concerns that most traditional students do not
have. Student veterans that are returning to fulfill their needs for higher education who have been or during their pursuit of
higher education may be deployed to active duty often face unique
issues and concerns that are unprecedented and unique to the
current generation of veterans of the post 9/11 era of service in
the Armed Forces. Many of these veterans have had or will be
subject to multiple deployments to active duty, including overseas
deployment, resulting in many unique issues and challenges in their
pursuit of higher education.
(b) Legislative intent. --
It is the intent of the Legislature
that state institutions of higher education provide adequate
services and facilities for student veterans in order to better
serve their unique issues and needs and to make West Virginia's
state institutions of higher education veteran-friendly.
(c) The Commission and Council each shall establish and
implement measures in the state institutions of higher education
under their respective jurisdictions to assure that veterans
enrolled in the institutions receive services and are provided
facilities appropriate for their unique needs, that student
veterans complete programs of study and earn degrees, and that the
institutions become veteran-friendly by actively and effectively
providing academic and social support and assistance to student
veterans. The measures shall include, but are not limited to, the
following:
(1) Establishing veteran-friendly community and technical
college degree programs which recognize and award academic credit
toward degrees for various types of technical and vocational military training and experience;
(2) Developing policies for each state institutions of higher
education to grant academic credit for Armed Forces experiences;
(3) Developing programs to facilitate student veterans in
sharing their unique knowledge and experience in the military
through public school programs and local community organizations;
(4) Establishing and sponsoring an organization for student
veterans on campus and encouraging other veteran-friendly
organizations;
(5) Appointing and training specific faculty within each
degree program or major as liaisons and contacts for student
veterans;
(6) Providing information about the Regents Bachelor of Arts
Degree program to student veterans and potential student veterans;
(7) Coordinating existing disability services on campus with
veteran disability services available from the United States
Department of Veterans Affairs, other federal and state agencies,
and private resources;
(8) Providing counselors on each campus who are trained to
effectively respond to the unique needs of veterans and to provide
services or provide referrals to services to fulfill these needs
for student veterans;
(9) Developing training materials on responding to student
veteran needs to be available for continued professional
development of counselors to student veterans
;
(10) Facilitating regular statewide meetings for all personnel at state institutions of higher education who regularly provide
specific services to student veterans to discuss and develop best
practices, exchange ideas and experiences, and hear presentations
by individuals with generally accepted expertise in areas of the
various needs of student veterans;
(11) Establishing a procedure to periodically apprise
appropriate state and federal agencies of the status of student
veterans in West Virginia;
(12) Establishing a program to create a corroborative
relationship between student veterans and alumni of the
institution, and with prospective employers to facilitate and
provide employment as well as social opportunities to graduating
student veterans; and
(13) Developing and facilitating communications between state
institutions of higher education and various veteran organizations
in the state to advance veteran causes that benefit student
veterans.
(d) The Commission and Council jointly shall submit a report
to the Legislature on September 1, annually, on the progress toward
implementing the provisions of this section.