Senate Bill No. 510

(By Senators Hunter, Oliverio, Prezioso, McCabe, Rowe, Caldwell, Unger and Ross)

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[Introduced February 13, 2003; referred to the Committee on Government Organization.]

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A BILL to amend and reenact sections three and four, article twenty-eight, chapter five of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, all relating to continuing the West Virginia commission on holocaust education; providing for reimbursement of reasonable expenses by members; and authorizing the commission to accept state funds as appropriated by the Legislature.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That sections three and four, article twenty-eight, chapter five of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, be amended and reenacted, all to read as follows:
ARTICLE 28. COMMISSION ON HOLOCAUST EDUCATION.
§5-28-3. Commission duties; compensation.
(a) The commission shall:
(1) Provide, based upon the collective knowledge and experience of its members, assistance and advice to public and private schools, colleges and universities with respect to the implementation of holocaust education and awareness programs;
(2) Meet with appropriate education officials and other interested public and private organizations, including service organizations, for the purpose of providing information, planning, coordination or modification of courses of study or programs dealing with the subject of the holocaust;
(3) Compile a roster of individual volunteers who are willing to share their verifiable knowledge and experiences in classrooms, seminars and workshops on the subject of the holocaust. The volunteers may be survivors of the holocaust, liberators of concentration camps, scholars, members of the clergy, community relations professionals or other persons who, by virtue of their experience, education or interest, have experience with the holocaust;
(4) Coordinate events memorializing the holocaust and seek volunteers who are willing and able to participate in commemorative events that will enhance public awareness of the significance of the holocaust; and
(5) Prepare annual reports for the governor and the Legislature regarding its findings and recommendations to facilitate the inclusion of holocaust studies and special programs memorializing the holocaust in educational systems in this state.
(b) Members of the commission are not entitled to compensation for services performed as members and are not entitled to reimbursement for expenses but shall be reimbursed for reasonable expenses necessarily incurred in the performance of their duties.
§5-28-4. Continuation of the commission.
Pursuant to the provisions of article ten, chapter four of this code, the West Virginia holocaust commission on holocaust education shall continue to exist until the first day of July, two thousand three six, unless sooner terminated, continued or reestablished by act of the Legislature. The commission is hereby authorized to accept state funds as the same may be appropriated by the Legislature.


NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to extend the Commission on Holocaust Education for an additional three years and to provide that it may accept appropriations from the Legislature. It also would authorize reimbursement of commission members' expenses.

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