HB2160 HFIN FBM                                 HOUSE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

FLOOR BOOK MEMO

HOUSE BILL 2160 (WV Schools for the Deaf and Blind eligible for School Building Authority funding.)

Sponsors:   Delegates Rowan, Cowles, Perry, Williams, Hamilton, Anderson, Pasdon, Duke, Espinosa, Miley and E. Nelson

Attorney:    AC

Date:           February 11, 2015

Title:           OK

Fiscal Note:          No

Code:          §§18-9D-2, 3, 4c & 16 (amend); §18-9D-22 (new)

Purpose: The bill would amend the provisions of the WV Code relating to the operation of the WV School Building Authority. The bill would allow the WV Schools for the Deaf and Blind (Schools) to be eligible for funding it is currently ineligible for through the WV School Building Authority. The Schools are not affiliated with any one county board of education, but are under the jurisdiction of the State Board of Education. Current code authorizes up to 3% of the annual amounts available for all projects for statewide projects which would include the Schools. The remainder available is restricted to projects for county school boards which precludes the Schools from participation. The bill also provides that the SBA may not require a local match from the Schools, nor may it penalize the Schools for not having a local match in its prioritization of projects.

Committee Action: The Committee on Education reported the bill with an amendment which made non-substantive changes. The Committee on Finance reported a Committee Substitute which reflects the changes included in the amendment reported by the Committee on Education.

Effective Date:     Passage