SB14 HFIN AMT

            The Committee on Finance moves to amend the title of the bill, by striking the title and inserting in lieu thereof a new title to read as follows:

            A BILL to amend and reenact §5-16-2 and §5-16-22 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; to amend and reenact §6C-2-2 of said code; to amend and reenact §18-7A-3 of said code; to amend and reenact §18-7B-2 of said code; to amend and reenact §18-9A-2 of said code; to amend said code by adding thereto a new section, designated section §18-9A-12a; to amend and reenact §18-20-5 of said code; to amend said code by adding thereto a new article, designated §18-33-1, §18-33-2, §18-33-3, §18-33-4, §18-33-5, §18-33-6, §18-33-7, §18-33-8, §18-33-9, §18-33-10, §18-33-11, §18-33-12, §18-33-13, §18-33-14, §18-33-15, §18-33-16, §18-33-17 and §18-33-18; and to amend and reenact §29-12-5a of said code, all relating to public charter schools; requiring public charter school employees participate in insurance plans established by the Public Employees Insurance Agency; making Public Employees Grievance Procedure applicable to public charter school when determination for applicability included in in approved charter application; requiring public charter school employees participate in Teachers Retirement System or Teachers’ Defined Contribution Retirement System, whichever applicable; including public charter school students in definition of net enrollment for public school support program; adjusting county total support program allowance for public charter school enrollment; modifying disbursement method of funds for children with high cost/high acuity special needs and providing disbursement include public charter schools; eliminating certain reviews and reports on rules and plans; establishing public charter schools; setting forth legislative purpose and intent; defining terms; requiring state superintendent report on charter school program; setting forth provisions pertaining to eligibility and enrollment; prohibiting discrimination; authorizing county boards to authorize start-up public charter schools or conversion of noncharter public school to public charter schools; capping the number of public charter schools authorized during certain time periods; setting forth duties of the authorizer; requiring an authorizer to develop and maintain policies and practices consistent with nationally recognized principles and professional standards for authorizing public charter schools; requiring authorizers with public charter school in operation to submit annual report to state superintendent summarizing certain information; prohibiting certain conflicts of interest; prohibiting requirement for public charter school to purchase services from authorizer; providing duties of state board relating to training, appeals, requests for proposals and determining schools authorized during two per calendar year cap; authorizing state board to charge for performing duties; specifying training programs; providing for issuance and content of requests for proposals for public charter school applications; providing for public charter school application, application review, approval, denial and appeal; specifying appeal process and limiting state board authority on appeal; requiring the execution of charter contract including ceratin provisions, processes and conditions; requiring certain performance provisions of charter contract based on performance framework developed by state board; requiring certain data elements and annual performance targets in performance framework for evaluative use; requiring student data disaggregation; providing authorizer responsibilities relating to oversight and notification of unsatisfactory performance of authorized public charter schools; providing for initial charter term of five years and renewal term of five to ten years; providing authorizer responsibilities relating to renewal; requiring renewal application; setting forth provisions pertaining to the renewal, nonrenewal and revocation of charter contract; required notification to state superintendent; providing process for appeal of nonrenewal or revocation and limiting state board authority on appeal; providing for public charter school closure and dissolution and duty of authorizer; establishing priority in application of laws, rules, regulations and authorities; allowing charter contract to include one or more separate public charter schools; allowing issuance of one or more charter contracts to single governing board; providing that school district in which public charter school is located remains local education agency with limited exception; providing school district retains responsibility for special education; declaring county board remains accountable for public charter school performance; setting forth powers of public charter schools; prohibiting discrimination, engagement in religious activities, charging tuition and delegating or assigning responsibilities set forth in a charter contract; limiting fees that may be charged; setting forth provisions pertaining to the applicability of other laws, rules and regulations to public charter schools; prohibiting county boards from certain actions relating to public charter schools; declaring personnel hired by public charter school are employed by the charter school; requiring public charter school comply with applicable federal laws and regulations regarding qualifications of teachers and other instructional staff; providing public charter school classroom teachers subject to same licensing requirements applicable to classroom teachers in noncharter public schools; providing personnel in a public charter school continue to accrue seniority in same manner as if employed in noncharter public school for purposes of employment in noncharter public schools; setting forth provisions pertaining to accounting, financial reporting and auditing; requiring reports of public charter school net enrollment; providing for public charter school to submit budget request within certain limit; requiring state board to include public charter school budget request in request to Governor and requiring Governor to request appropriation; providing for state board distribution of funding; providing processes for special education and federal funding; authorizing receipt of gifts and grants and requiring disclosure of funding sources; allowing public charter school to contract with school district or other entity for transportation services; requiring any entity providing transportation services to comply with all transportation and safety and administrative regulations applicable to noncharter public schools; setting forth provisions pertaining to public charter school facilities and property; clarifying that county boards not required to seek funds for certain facility-related purposes; setting forth provisions pertaining to building inspections, codes, regulations and fees; setting forth provisions pertaining to the transfer of credits; setting forth provisions pertaining to extracurricular and interscholastic activities and access to noncharter school activities; requiring and providing process for employee vote to apply for conversion to charter of existing noncharter public school; and setting forth provisions related to optional participation in Board of Risk and Insurance Management coverage.