H. B. 2067
(By Delegate Spencer)
[Introduced February 10, 1993; referred to the
Committee on Education.]
A BILL to amend and reenact section one, article four, chapter
eighteen-a of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine
hundred thirty-one, as amended, relating to the definition
of "years of experience" for school nurses.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That section one, article four, chapter eighteen-a of the
code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as
amended, be amended and reenacted to read as follows:
ARTICLE 4. SALARIES, WAGES AND OTHER BENEFITS.
§18A-4-1. Definitions.
For the purpose of this article, salaries shall be defined
as: (a) "Basic salaries" which shall mean means the salaries
paid to teachers with zero years of experience and in accordance
with the classification of certification and of training of said
teachers; and (b) "advanced salaries" which shall mean means the
basic salary plus an experience increment based on the allowable
years of experience of the respective teachers in accordance withthe schedule established herein for the applicable classification
of certification and of training of said teachers.
"Classification of certification" means the class or type of
certificate issued by the state superintendent under the
statutory provisions of this chapter. "Classification of
training" means the number of collegiate or graduate hours
necessary to meet the requirements stipulated in the definitions
set forth in the next paragraph in items (2) to (11), inclusive.
The column heads of the state minimum salary schedule set
forth in section two of this article are defined as follows:
(1) "Years of experience" means the number of years the
teacher has been employed in the teaching profession, including
active work in educational positions other than the public
schools, and service in the armed forces of the United States if
the teacher was under contract to teach at the time of induction.
For a registered professional nurse employed by a county board,
"years of experience" means the number of years the nurse has
been employed as a public school health nurse, including active
work in a nursing position related to education in the nursing
profession, and service in the armed forces if the nurse was
under contract with the county board at the time of induction.
For the purpose of section two of this article, the experience of
a teacher or a nurse shall be limited to that allowed under their
training classification as found in the minimum salary schedule.
(2) "Fourth class" means all certificates previously
identified as: (a) "Certificates secured by examination"; and(b) "other first grade certificates."
(3) "Third class" means all certificates previously
identified as: (a) "Standard normal certificates"; and (b)
"third class temporary (sixty-four semester hours) certificates."
(4) "Second class" means all certificates previously
identified as "second class temporary certificates based upon the
required ninety-six hours of college work."
(5) "A.B." means a bachelor's degree, from an accredited
institution of higher education, which has been issued to, or for
which the requirements for such have been met by, a person who
qualifies for or holds a professional certificate or its
equivalent. A registered professional nurse with a bachelor's
degree, who is licensed by the West Virginia board of examiners
for registered professional nurses and employed by a county
board, shall be within this classification for payment in
accordance with sections two and two-a of this article.
(6) "A.B. plus 15" means a bachelor's degree as defined
above plus fifteen hours of graduate work, from an accredited
institution of higher education certified to do graduate work, in
an approved planned program at the graduate level which
requirements have been met by a person who qualifies for or holds
a professional certificate or its equivalent.
(7) "M.A." means a master's degree, earned in an institution
of higher education approved to do graduate work, which has been
issued to, or the requirements for such have been met by, a
person who qualifies for or holds a professional certificate orits equivalent.
(8) "M.A. plus 15" means the above-defined master's degree
plus fifteen hours of graduate work, earned in an institution of
higher education approved to do graduate work, if the person is
qualified for or holds a professional certificate or its
equivalent.
(9) "M.A. plus 30" means the above-defined master's degree
plus thirty graduate hours, earned in an institution approved to
do graduate work, if the person is qualified for or holds a
professional certificate or its equivalent.
(10) "Doctorate" means a doctor's degree, earned from a
university qualified and approved to confer such a degree, which
has been issued to or the requirements for such have been met by
a person who qualifies for or holds a professional certificate or
its equivalent.
For purposes of advanced salary classification, graduate
work completed after the first day of July, one thousand nine
hundred ninety-four, shall be related to the public school
program, as prescribed by the state board.
Notwithstanding the requirements set forth in subdivisions
(6), (8) and (9) of this section relating to hours of graduate
work at an institution certified to do such work, fifteen
undergraduate credit hours from a regionally accredited
institution of higher education, earned after the effective date
of this section, may be utilized for advanced salary
classification if such hours are in accordance with: (a) Theteacher's current classification of certification and of
training; (b) a designated instructional shortage area documented
by the employing county superintendent; or (c) an identified
teaching deficiency documented through the state approved county
personnel evaluation system.
Effective the first day of July, one thousand nine hundred
ninety-four, the following definition shall be applicable.
(11) "M.A. plus 45" means the above-defined master's degree
plus forty-five graduate hours, earned in an institution approved
to do graduate work, if the person is qualified for or holds a
professional certificate or its equivalent.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to clarify the definition
of the years of experience required for school nurses. "Years of
experience" means the number the nurse has been employed as a
nurse. The bill will no longer require a school nurse to count
years related to education.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken
from the present law, and underscoring indicates new language
that would be added.