MORGANTOWN – The House Education Committee approved a bill Thursday to update charter school legislation and another to create a new savings account program for people seeking to train or enter a trade.
HB 2012 is the charter school bill and contains a number of provisions.
Current code is silent on virtual charter schools. This bill allows for one statewide virtual school, with an enrollment cap of 10% of the statewide student headcount, and one school in each county with a 10% enrollment cap based on the county’s headcount.
Currently, only three charter schools my be launched every three years. This raises the limit to 10.
It creates the West Virginia Professional Charter School Board as the statewide authority, separate from the Department of Education and answerable directly to the state Board of Education. The board’s five members would be appointed by the governor.
For multi-county schools, a charter must be approved by each interested county; if one of the counties denies the application, the school must be situated in one of the counties that approves.
It details the criteria for contracts, contract renewal and revocation, performance reviews and audits, and establishes an appeal process for denial of an application or contract renewal.
No amendments were offered and there was no discussion, but a roll-call vote was demanded. It passed 16-7 along party lines and goes to the House floor.
Jumpstart program
HB 2001 is the Jumpstart Savings Act. It’s similar to the 529 college savings account.
It allows anyone to create an account on behalf of a designated beneficiary, with contributions deductible from state income taxes.
The beneficiary may use the money for buying tools, equipment or supplies for a qualifying occupation; to earn an associate degree or pay certification or licensure fees; pay costs to establish a business.
An account may be opened with an initial $25 deposit, (lowered from $50 through an amendment offered by Delegate Sean Hornbuckle, D-Cabell) and the state treasurer may add $100 under certain criteria.
Contributions from a single donor are deductible up to $25,000; after that, deductions can be rolled forward for up to five years.
Employers may claim a nonrefundable tax credit by matching an employee’s donations to the employee’s account, up to $5,000 for each employee.
The bill creates a Jumpstart Savings Board, along with a Jumpstart Savings Trust Fund and a Jumpstart Savings Expense Fund in the state treasury. The board is chaired by the state treasurer.
New state Treasurer Riley Moore said this program would be the first of its kind in the nation, if it passes and becomes law.
The idea came to him, he said, back in his younger days when he was working as a welder and wanted to start his own mobile welding business but lacked the resources. He thinks Jumpstart could provide the incentive for other young people to seek their career dreams.
“We feel very strongly that this could be a model,” he said. “It’s actually a really exciting opportunity.”
Another Hornbuckle amendment, to allow a beneficiary to use fund money for transportation and child care failed in a divided voice vote. A third Hornbuckle amendment needed some fine tuning and will be expected on the House floor.
The bill passed unanimously and goes to the House floor.
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