HB2187 H ED AM 2-20

The Committee on Education moved to amend the bill on page one, following the enacting clause, by striking out the remainder of the bill and inserting in lieu thereof the following:

"That §18-5-19c of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended and reenacted to read as follows:
ARTICLE 5. COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION.
§18-5-19c. Division of Technical and Adult Education Services.
(a) The state superintendent of schools shall have has authority to establish in the State Department of Education a Division of veteran and adult education Technical and Adult Education Services, and to provide for suitable coordination and supervision of such the educational programs as are established under the provisions of in sections nineteen-a and nineteen-b of this article. All programs established under the preceding said sections of this article shall be are under regulations of the state board of education.
(b) The Legislature finds that:
(1) The General Educational Development (GED) exam is an implement for success that can transform the future of the graduate;
(2) For an individual who has not attained a high school diploma, achieving a High School Equivalency Diploma can increase employment opportunities and earning potential;
(3) Individuals who will benefit from a High School Equivalency Diploma often lack the credentials necessary for employment, and therefore lack the resources to afford the costs of the GED exam; and
(4) Many individuals for whom the GED exam is unattainable are likely to remain in a state of poverty.
(c) The State Board shall develop and administer a program to provide the GED exam fee for an eligible individual pursuing a High School Equivalency Diploma. The State Board shall establish a rule to implement the program.
(1) The rule shall provide for eligibility requirements as follows:
(A) Successful completion of a GED preparation program;
(B) Successful completion of the GED Official Practice Test;
(C) Standards for measuring successful completion of the program and test required by this subdivision;
(D) GED exam registration with a GED testing center that is approved by the State Board; and
(E) Any other requirements established by the State Board.
(2) The State Board shall provide the GED exam fee directly to the GED testing center. "