WEST virginia legislature

2022 regular session

Introduced

Senate Bill 586

By Senator Weld

[Introduced February 07, 2022; referred to
 the Committee on Education]

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §18-2-25e, relating to allowing students to transfer schools and retain his or her athletic eligibility at least one-time during a student’s four years of secondary school.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 2. STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION.

§18-2-25e. Athletic eligibility of transfer students.

(a) The West Virginia Secondary Schools Activities Commission shall modify its rule, prior to the 2022-2023 school year, to allow for students to transfer schools and retain athletic eligibility at least one time during a student’s four years of secondary school (9-12).

(b) The State Board of Education, in its review and adoption of West Virginia Secondary Schools Activities Commission’s rule described in this section, shall ensure that the rule modification achieves the intent of this section to not require a student to undergo one year of athletic ineligibility if the student transfers secondary schools after the student’s ninth grade year.

(c) Nothing in this section is intended to limit or restrict:

(1) A student’s ability to transfer back to the student’s residential district and participate in athletics as currently permitted by the West Virginia Secondary Schools Activities Commission’s rules; or

(2) The West Virginia Secondary Schools Activities Commission’s ability to make eligibility determinations on a case-by-case basis when warranted by a student’s circumstances in accordance with the West Virginia Secondary Schools Activities Commission’s rules.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to modify the procedure for athletic eligibility of transfer students.

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