CHARLESTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – The House Education Committee met this afternoon to consider the following:
House Bill 4263 increases the pay grade of a cafeteria manager to classification from pay grade D to pay grade E beginning on July 1, 2024.
House Bill 4331 provides an optional lump sum payment of accrued personal leave to full-time employees of a county school board upon termination of full-time employment. The bill advances to Finance.
House Bill 4832 clarifies any school district that fails to report its finances to the state superintendent may be subject to a reduction of its state funding.
House Bill 4838 requires county boards of education to provide long-term substitute teachers with information about an IEP plan and 504 plan.
House Bill 4806 requires the use of bathrooms and multi-person common changing rooms by gender assigned at birth. It prohibits the usage of a designated room by a person of the opposite sex, with exceptions for family members, rendering medical or other assistance. The bill establishes penalties for violations. The committee substitute also allows for the opposite sex’s locker room to be used during sporting events.
An amendment to the committee substitute was offered to change “original” birth certificate to “current” birth certificate because there could be cases where an individual could be 18, have had a sex change, and still be in high school. The amendment was rejected.
The committee substitute advances to the Judiciary Committee.
House Bill 4299 allows K-12 teachers, administrators, and support personnel to carry concealed firearms and be designated as school protection officers (SPO). Training through the Department of Homeland Security must be completed. The individual must have a valid concealed carry permit. The bill does provide funding for the SPO program. The program is not mandatory, but if the county should decide to do it, they will have the support to do so.
Proponents of the bill feel this would provide extra protection to schools. Opponents feel it could cause dangerous situations.
The bill advances to the Judiciary Committee.
