HB 4768 updates definitions to incorporate federal law changes to qualified higher education expenses for purposes of 529 accounts. The bill adds public schools to the definition of eligible educational institutions in which the money may be used. The bill passed.
HB 4798 requires teachers to wear a "mobile alert button" for emergency situations, to be known as "Alyssa's Law." This bill would require the alert button to be worn by all teachers, and the funding would come from private donations and administered by the Department of Homeland Security. Four counties in WV already use this system for educators. A Committee Substitute was offered that makes this permissive instead of required. The bill passed.
Committee Substitute for HB 4965 relates to patient-centered treatment flexibility within the Public Employees Insurance Agency. The committee substitute allows a patient that has received prior approval to receive an alternate treatment without prior approval. It does prohibit reverting back to the previous treatment. The bill passed.
The Committee Substitute for the Committee Substitute for HB 4995 requires the use of video cameras in certain special education classrooms. The bill requires notice to be given if there was an interruption or the recording and does not allow the video to be used for employee evaluation purposes. The bill passed.
HB 5012 providing for in-year school personnel movement to meet school needs. A Committee Substitute addressed the concerns of Education West Virginia, and now only allows movement after the last day of the second month if a shift in student population leaves a teacher or service professional without any students. The bill passed.
HB 5048 ensures virtual instruction for foster students while in temporary placement facilities. The bill provides virtual learning through the county the student was last enrolled. The bill passed.
Com. Sub. for HB 5089 providing for verification mastery of content standards for transcripts when a student enrolls or re-enrolls in a public school. A Committee Substitute was adopted to clarify that each public school shall review the class, grade, and source on the student's public-school transcript. It also requires reports made to LOCEA of the demographics of students who re-enroll into public schools in the state and whether they attended homeschooling, charter, private, micro or a HOPE program. The bill passed.
HB 5354 relating to authorizing legislative rules regarding higher education. The bill strikes outdated language and adds mental health loan program and the STAND program. The bill passed.
Notable bills that died
SB 11 sought to allow certain Teachers Retirement System members to exchange unused leave for monetary compensation. The bill would have provided a cash bonus in exchange for up to 10 days unused days of personal leave.
Com. Sub. for SB 114 sought to create a Paid Parental Leave Pilot Program benefit program for employees of county boards of education. It would have allowed for 12 weeks of paid parental leave, for the care of biological, foster and adopted children.
Committee Substitute for SB 176 would have increased non-traditional instructional days for WV teachers from 5 to 10.
HB 4656 sought to address chronic absenteeism. This bill would have created a Student Support Specialist in each county to work with students with chronic absenteeism. The bill also looks at preventative measures for intervention rather than punitive measures.
Com. Sub. for HB 5537 began as a bill to repeal obsolete and outdated sections of the education code. The bill passed the House and moved to the Senate for consideration. The Senate amended the bill by adding Raylee's Law which would prevent a parent from beginning homeschool if there is a report by a mandatory reporter (educators) of abuse. If the report is not substantiated within 10 days, the county must approve the homeschool request. The Senate passed the bill and it went back to the House on the final day of the session. The motion was made to concur with the Senate amendment with further amendments. A series of amendments were offered and defeated. The motion to adopt the bill passed but the Senate adjourned sine die before they could receive the report.
HB 5453 would have modified the school aid funding formula and increased funding for special education students. The bill provided additional weighting for level two (1.2 x funding) and level three (1.3 x) special education students. These funds must be used for the instruction of the special needs students. The funding established in this bill for tier 2 and tier 3 special needs students would have applied for all public schools including public charter schools. The bill died on the final day of the session after the House failed to concur with amended version passed by the Senate.
