H. B. 2510


(By Delegate Louisos)

[Introduced February 23, 2001 ; referred to the

Committee on Veterans' Affairs then Education.]





A BILL to amend and reenact section thirty-four, article two, chapter eighteen of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, relating to granting high school diplomas posthumously to veterans of World War I, World War II, the Korean Conflict and the Vietnam Conflict.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That section thirty-four, article two, chapter eighteen of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, be amended and reenacted to read as follows:

ARTICLE 2. STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION.

§18-2-34. High school diplomas for World War I, World War II, Korean Conflict, and Vietnam Conflict veterans.

(a) Notwithstanding any provision of this code to the contrary, the state board shall provide for the awarding of high school diplomas, either by the county board in the county in which the veteran resides or the county in which the veteran would have received his or her diplomas, whichever location the veteran chooses, to any surviving World War I veteran and any World War II, Korean Conflict or Vietnam Conflict veteran, or the awarding of high school diplomas posthumously to the surviving spouse or child or children of any such veteran, who:
(1) Left high school prior to graduation and served in the armed forces of the United States;
(2) Did not receive a high school diploma;
(3) Was discharged from the armed services under honorable conditions; and
(4) Completes the application process as provided by the joint rules of the state board and the veterans' council.
(b) The state board and the veterans' council, created in article one, chapter nine-a of this code, shall jointly promulgate rules for the identification of eligible veterans and for the awarding of high school diplomas. The rules shall provide for an application process and the credentials required to receive the high school diplomas.
(c) For purposes of this section:
(1) "World War I veteran" means any veteran who:
(A) Performed wartime service between April sixth, one thousand nine hundred seventeen and November eleventh, one thousand nine hundred eighteen; or
(B) Has been awarded the World War I Victory Medal;
(2) "World War II veteran" means any veteran who performed wartime service between September sixteenth, one thousand nine hundred forty and December thirty-first, one thousand nine hundred forty-six;
(3) "Korean Conflict veteran" means any veteran who performed military service between June twenty-seventh, one thousand nine hundred fifty and January thirty-first, one thousand nine hundred fifty-five; and
(4) "Vietnam Conflict veteran" means any veteran who performed military service between February twenty-eighth, one thousand nine hundred sixty-one and May seventh, one thousand nine hundred seventy-five.


NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to grant high school diplomas to veterans, posthumously to the surviving spouse or children of veterans, of World War I, World War II, the Korean Conflict and the Vietnam Conflict.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.