House advances three school-related bills to Senate

David Beard, The Dominion Post, Morgantown, W.Va.
·2 min read

Feb. 7—MORGANTOWN — Three more school-related bills passed out of the House of Delegates on Wednesday and head to the Senate.

HB 5863 creates the Patriotic Access to Students in Schools Act.

It says that starting next school year, school principals shall allow representatives of a patriotic society the opportunity to speak with and recruit students to participate in their organizations during school hours. The discussion would inform the students of how the patriotic society may further their educational interests and civic involvement to better their schools, communities and themselves.

Patriotic societies are listed in Title 36 of federal code. They include, for example, the American National Red Cross, Daughters of the American Revolution, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, the American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, FFA, Boys & Girls Clubs, the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Big Brothers-Big Sisters and Little League Baseball.

The vote was 95-0.

HB 5056 is a response to a shortage of school service personnel workers. It allows a school service worker to substitute in another position, on a day-to-day basis, under certain conditions: no other qualified sub is available ; subbing doesn't interfere with their regular work ; and the sub is properly trained and certified for the job.

Delegate Kayla Young, D-Kanawha, asked why the bill is needed. Education chair Joe Ellington said this form of subbing is not currently allowed. It applies to subbing within the school system and doesn't apply to outside jobs.

The vote was 95-0.

HB 5179 is Jaycie's Law and is designed to help teen parents continue and complete their education.

It provides for excused absences for pre-and post-natal care, labor and delivery. It allows a teen mom up to eight weeks absence to recover from birth, and a teen dad up to two weeks.

For moms and dads and pregnant girls, it provides for a weekly check-in by a home-bound instructor, virtual schooling and whatever other resources the school can provide.

It requires a school to refer a pregnant and parenting student to a pregnancy help organization by providing a list of pregnancy or postpartum assistance organizations within the county and surrounding counties—with those organizations defined in state code.

There was no debate. It passed 96-0.

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