SB 65 Text

Engrossed Version Senate Bill 65 History

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SB65 SUB1 eng ENGROSSED
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
FOR
Senate Bill No. 65
(By Senators Oliverio, Chafin, Edgell, Wells, Minard and Fanning)
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[Originating in the Committee on Finance;
reported February 21, 2008.]
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A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §18-2-35a, relating to establishment of the school uniforms incentive plan pilot program; providing funding for certain public elementary schools which adopt and implement school uniform policies; providing eligibility criteria and selection process; directing how funds may be spent; and requiring progress report to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended by adding thereto a new section, designated §18-2-35a, to read as follows:

ARTICLE 2. STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION.

§18-2-35a. School uniforms incentive plan pilot program.

(a) The purpose of the Legislature in enacting this section is to establish the school uniforms incentive plan pilot program in the public schools of the state. The state board shall provide funding from legislative appropriations for this purpose for up to ten public elementary schools to participate in the pilot program during the two thousand eight--two thousand nine school year. The state board shall select to participate in the pilot program ten public elementary schools which meet the following criteria:
(1) Adopt a school uniform policy pursuant to section thirty- five of this article for implementation during the school year two thousand eight--two thousand nine;
(2) Have not had a school uniform policy in effect at the school in the past five years; and
(3) Apply to the state board on or before the thirtieth day of April, two thousand eight.
(b) The state board shall time and date stamp the receipt of each application and shall make the selection of the schools to participate in the pilot program beginning with the first applicant school from each county in the applicant pool to apply and meet the criteria before proceeding to the next such school in each county and so forth until ten are selected. The state board shall notify the schools selected no later than the eleventh day of May, two thousand eight.
(c) Each public elementary school selected by the state board to participate in the pilot program shall receive a grant of ten thousand dollars allocated by the state board from legislative appropriations made for this purpose.
(d) The faculty senate at each participating elementary school, with advice from the local school improvement council, controls and expends the funds allocated in accordance with the provisions of this section. These funds may be used for the following purposes to benefit the school and its students:
(A) To improve school safety;
(B) To purchase school uniforms, academic materials, computers and technology, supplies or equipment;
(C) To refurbish school playgrounds;
(D) To enhance appropriate student behavior;
(E) To increase academic achievement;
(F) To improve student self-esteem; and
(G) To address the problems of at-risk students.
No funds may be expended without the approval of the school principal.
(e) The state superintendent shall report to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability by the beginning of the two thousand nine regular session of the Legislature on progress in implementing the provisions of this section.