Source: http://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/bills_text.cfm?billdoc=HB4006%20SUB%20ENG.htm&yr=2018&sesstype=RS&i=4006
Timestamp: 2019-04-24 02:19:30+00:00

Document:
A BILL to repeal §10-5-2a of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; to repeal §18-2I-3 of said code; to repeal §18A-3-2d of said code; to repeal §18A-3A-1, §18A-3A-2, §18A-3A-2b, §18A-3A-3 and §18A-3A-5 of said code; to repeal §18B-11-4 and §18B-11-6 of said code; to amend and reenact §4-13-2 of said code; to amend and reenact §5-26A-3 of said code; to amend and reenact §5B-2C-6 of said code; to amend and reenact §5F-1-2 of said code; to amend and reenact §5F-2-1 of said code; to amend and reenact §6-7-2a of said code; to amend and reenact §18-2I-1, §18-2I-2 and §18-2I-4 of said code; to amend and reenact §18-10A-1, §18-10A-2, §18-10A-3, §18-10A-6a and §18-10A-12 of said code; to amend and reenact §18-10K-2, §18-10K-5 and §18-10K-6 of said code; to amend and reenact §18-30-4 of said code; to amend and reenact §18A-2-9 and §18A-2-12 of said code; to amend and reenact §18A-3-1, §18A-3-1d, §18A-3-2c and §18A-3-8 of said code; to amend and reenact §18A-3C-1, §18A-3C-2 and §18A-3C-3 of said code; to amend and reenact §18B-1B-2 of said code; to amend and reenact §18B-3D-2 of said code; to amend and reenact §18B-16-5 and §18B-16-8 of said code; to amend and reenact §18B-18B-1 of said code; and to amend and reenact §29-24-3 and §29-24-5 of said code, all relating to revising the processes through which professional development is delivered for those who provide public education in this state, including improvement of the focus on school-level continuous improvement processes led by the principal, generally; eliminating administrative offices, duplicative programs and obsolete provisions; repealing provisions related to creation and duties of distance learning coordinating council; repealing provisions related to annual state board professional development master plan; repealing provisions related to beginning principal internships; repealing provisions related to center for professional development and principals academy curriculum; repealing provisions related to center for development professional development project; repealing provisions related to principals academy establishment, mission, required attendance and employment of coordinator; repealing provisions related to pilot program of delivering educational services via distance learning; repealing provisions related to creation of depositories for assistive devices and services at two colleges or universities; repealing provisions creating the National Institute For Teaching Excellence and its governing board; modifying membership of Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War Commission; modifying membership of Commission for National and Community Service; removing Department of Education and the Arts as option to provide technical support to the Academy of Science and Technology in preparation of annual report; eliminating Department of Education and the Arts as executive department headed by secretary; transferring Division of Culture and History and Division of Rehabilitation Services to Department of Commerce; making the Educational Broadcasting Authority and Library Commission each an independent agency within executive branch; correcting names of agencies; eliminating salary of Secretary of Education and the Arts; modifying the scope and goals of the system for coordination and delivery of professional development to be instituted by State Board of Education; modifying legislative findings with respect to professional development; eliminating requirement for State Board of Education master plan for professional development; requiring State Board of Education rule to include process for aggregating school and system strategic plan information to assist design and delivery of professional development; replacing references to the secretary and the Department of Education and the Arts in rehabilitation and vocational services related statutes; modifying membership of Traumatic Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Fund Board; transferring fund administration to Department of Commerce; modifying membership of College Prepaid Tuition and Savings Program Board; including instructional leadership among the responsibilities of principals and requiring course work in instructional leadership and related topics as prerequisite for administrative certification; moving from a precertification requirement to a pre-employment requirement that principals, assistant principals and administrators complete education and training in evaluation skills; deleting provisions proscribing limitations on certain rights and privileges of principals and assistant principals as teachers; removing requirements for interaction between State Board of Education and Center for Professional Development regarding performance evaluations; removing proscription of issuance or renewal of certain administrative certificate; removing requirement for State Board of Education consultation with Secretary of Education and Arts and Chancellor for Higher Education prior to exercise of authority over education; adding within standards for education of professional educators requirement providing for the study of the history and philosophical foundations of Western Civilization and the writings of the founders of the United States of America; eliminating references to regional education service agencies; removing requirement for State Board of Education to consult with Secretary of Education and the Arts and the Chancellor of Higher Education; removing provisions related to required training and professional development of principals through principals academy; adding instructional leadership and management techniques to required minimum standards for rule governing training of principals; removing language relating to waivers, ineligibility, progress tracking and expenses relating to training of principals; requiring county professional staff development councils to base proposals for staff development on analysis of individual and collective need indicated in school’s strategic plans; incorporating development of certain teachers, principals, assistant principals, vocational administrators and others in the provisions for a comprehensive system to improve teaching and learning; making legislative finding that professional development resources must be focused rather than increased; removing obsolete provisions related to phased implementation of provisions for professional personnel evaluations; eliminating requirement for five percent of evaluations to be based on state summative assessment and increasing percent based on evidence of student learning by five percent; incorporating principals into the comprehensive system of support for improved professional performance; requiring deficiencies identified through personnel evaluations to be incorporated in strategic plans for continuous improvement; removing language requiring posting and other provisions relating to employment; restricting certain appropriations for certain activities; modifying membership and selection process for members of Higher Education Policy Commission; modifying membership of Workforce Development Initiative Program Advisory Committee; updating agency references and removing Secretary of Education and the Arts with respect to rural health initiative; modifying membership of Science and Research Council; transferring certain references and responsibilities to Technology-Related Assistance Revolving Loan Fund For Individuals With Disabilities Board to Secretary of Commerce; directing the adoption and promulgation of rules and guidelines; and making consequential changes incident to the elimination of agencies or programs or the modification of duties, responsibilities and functions.
ARTICLE 13. WEST VIRGINIA SESQUICENTENNIAL OF THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR COMMISSION AND FUND.
§4-13-2. Membership; terms; filling vacancies; election of chair and vice chair.
(7) (8) One member of the Senate, to be appointed by the President of the Senate, who shall serve as an ex officio nonvoting member of the commission.
(b) The members shall serve until July 1, 2021.
(c) Appointments to fill vacancies shall be for the unexpired terms. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments.
(d) The commission shall elect a chair and a vice chair from among its members.
(a) The West Virginia commission for national and community service shall have no fewer than fifteen and no more than twenty-five voting members to be appointed by the Governor.
(9) A representative of an arts or crafts organization.
(c) The membership of the West Virginia Commission for National and Community Service shall include a representative of the corporation for national and community service who shall serve as a member in a nonvoting, ex officio capacity.
(d) No more than twenty-five percent of the voting membership of the West Virginia commission for national and community service may be individuals who are employed by the state or its agencies, except that the membership may include additional employees of the state or its agencies in a nonvoting, ex officio capacity.
(e) No member of the West Virginia Commission for National and Community Service may vote on an issue affecting organizations for which the member has served as a staff person or as a volunteer at any time during the twelve-month period before the member's appointment to the commission.
(f) No more than fifty percent plus one of the members of the West Virginia Commission for National and Community Service may be members of the same political party.
(g) To the extent possible, the membership of the West Virginia Commission for National and Community Service shall reflect the diversity of the state's population.
(h) Members of the West Virginia Commission for National and Community Service who were appointed under the executive order of the Governor entered on January 28, 1994, shall continue as members of the commission for a term of three years, except that the Governor shall designate eight members who shall serve for a term of two years and shall also designate an additional eight members who shall serve for a term of one year. Additional appointments by the Governor under the provisions of this section and appointments by the Governor upon the expiration of a member's term shall be made for a term of three years. Appointments of members by the Governor to serve for an unexpired term shall be for the remainder of the unexpired term. Members may be reappointed.
(i) The voting members of the West Virginia Commission for National and Community Service shall annually elect a voting member to serve as the chair of the commission.
(j) The members of the West Virginia Commission for National and Community Service shall meet at the call of the chair, who shall be obligated to call a meeting at the request of a simple majority of the members or as necessary to ensure that the members have met at least twice in each calendar year of the commission's operation.
(k) The members of the West Virginia Commission for National and Community Service shall serve without compensation, except that the members of the commission who are not state employees shall be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in discharging their duties and responsibilities as members of the commission.
CHAPTER 5B. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 1985.
ARTICLE 2C. WEST VIRGINIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY.
(4) The status of, and options to improve, the collaboration of institutions of higher education in obtaining competitive research awards and grants.
(b) In preparing its annual report, the council may utilize the technical support available to it through the West Virginia Development Office, the West Virginia department for education and arts the West Virginia Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCOR), the West Virginia higher education system, federal and state agencies, and other entities that have an interest in fostering science and technology research, development, and commercialization in this state.
(c) Each month, an academy representative shall meet with legislative and executive leaders to provide updates and information concerning opportunities, issues and progress of science, technology, and commercialization in the state.
CHAPTER 5F. REORGANIZATION OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH OF STATE GOVERNMENT.
§5F-1-2. Executive departments created; offices of secretary created.
(9) (8) Effective July 1, 2011 Department of Veterans' Assistance.
(b) Each department will be headed by a secretary appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. Each secretary serves at the will and pleasure of the Governor.
ARTICLE 2. TRANSFER OF AGENCIES AND BOARDS.
§5F-2-1. Transfer and incorporation of agencies and boards; funds.
(12) (11) Real Estate Division provided in §5A-10-1 et seq. of this code.
(B) Board of Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety provided in §21-9-1 et seq. of this code.
(C) Mine Inspectors' Examining Board provided in §22A-9-1 et seq. of this code.
(D) Division of Research, Information and Analysis.
(8) Division Office of Energy, within the Development Office, provided in §5B-2F-1 et seq. of this code.
(11) Division of Rehabilitation Services provided in §18-10A-1 et seq. of this code.
(c) The Economic Development Authority provided in §31-15-1 et seq. of this code is continued as an independent agency within the executive branch.
(d) The Water Development Authority and the Water Development Authority Board provided in §22C-1-1 et seq. of this code is continued as an independent agency within the executive branch.
(e) The West Virginia Educational Broadcasting Authority provided in §10-5-1 et seq. of this code and the State Library Commission provided in §10-1-1 et seq. of this code are each continued as separate independent agencies within the executive branch.
(7) Oil and Gas Conservation Commission provided in §22C-9-1 et seq. of this code.
(3) Division of Rehabilitation Services provided in article ten-a, chapter eighteen of this code.
(8) (7) The Child Support Enforcement Division Bureau for Child Support Enforcement provided in chapter 48 of this code.
(11) Board of Probation and Parole provided in §62-12-1 et seq. of this code.
(12) The State Athletic Commission provided in §29-5A-1 et seq. of this code.
(7) Public Port Authority provided in §17-16B-1 et seq. of this code.
(l) (k) Effective July 1, 2011, the Veterans' Council provided in §9A-1-1 et seq. of this code, including all of the allied, advisory, affiliated, or related entities and funds associated with it, is incorporated in and administered as a part of the Department of Veterans' Assistance.
(m) (l) Except for powers, authority and duties that have been delegated to the secretaries of the departments by the provisions of §5F-2-2 of this code, the position of administrator and the powers, authority, and duties of each administrator and agency are not affected by the enactment of this chapter.
(n) (m) Except for powers, authority and duties that have been delegated to the secretaries of the departments by the provisions of §5F-2-2 of this code, the existence, powers, authority, and duties of boards and the membership, terms and qualifications of members of the boards are not affected by the enactment of this chapter. All boards that are appellate bodies or are independent decision makers shall not have their appellate or independent decision-making status affected by the enactment of this chapter.
(o) (n) Any department previously transferred to and incorporated in a department by prior enactment of this section means a division of the appropriate department. Wherever reference is made to any department transferred to and incorporated in a department created in §5F-1-2 of this code, the reference means a division of the appropriate department and any reference to a division of a department so transferred and incorporated means a section of the appropriate division of the department.
(p) (o) When an agency, board, or commission is transferred under a bureau or agency other than a department headed by a secretary pursuant to this section, that transfer is solely for purposes of administrative support and liaison with the Office of the Governor, a department secretary or a bureau. Nothing in this section extends the powers of department secretaries under §5F-2-2 of this code to any person other than a department secretary and nothing limits or abridges the statutory powers and duties of statutory commissioners or officers pursuant to this code.
§6-7-2a. Terms of certain appointive state officers; appointment; qualifications; powers and salaries of officers.
(a) Each of the following appointive state officers named in this subsection shall be appointed by the Governor, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. Each of the appointive state officers serves at the will and pleasure of the Governor for the term for which the Governor was elected and until the respective state officers’ successors have been appointed and qualified. Each of the appointive state officers are subject to the existing qualifications for holding each respective office and each has and is hereby granted all of the powers and authority and shall perform all of the functions and services heretofore vested in and performed by virtue of existing law respecting each office.
Commissioner, Division of Highways, $92,500; Commissioner, Division of Corrections, $80,000; Director, Division of Natural Resources, $75,000; Superintendent, State Police, $85,000; Commissioner, Division of Banking Financial Institutions, $75,000; Commissioner, Division of Culture and History, $65,000; Commissioner, Alcohol Beverage Control Commission, $75,000; Commissioner, Division of Motor Vehicles, $75,000; Director, Human Rights Commission, $55,000; Commissioner, Division of Labor, $70,000; prior to July 1, 2011, Director, Division of Veterans Affairs, $65,000; Chairperson, Board of Parole, $55,000; members, Board of Parole, $50,000; members, Employment Security Review Board, $17,000; and Commissioner, Workforce West Virginia, $75,000. Secretaries of the departments shall be paid an annual salary as follows: Health and Human Resources, $95,000: Provided, That effective July 1, 2013, the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Resources shall be paid an annual salary not to exceed $175,000; Transportation, $95,000: Provided, however, That if the same person is serving as both the Secretary of Transportation and the Commissioner of Highways, he or she shall be paid $120,000; Revenue, $95,000; Military Affairs and Public Safety, $95,000; Administration, $95,000; Education and the Arts, $95,000; Commerce, $95,000; Veterans’ Assistance, $95,000; and Environmental Protection, $95,000: Provided further, That any officer specified in this subsection whose salary is increased by more than $5,000 as a result of the amendment and reenactment of this section during the 2011 regular session of the Legislature shall be paid the salary increase in increments of $5,000 per fiscal year beginning July 1, 2011, up to the maximum salary provided in this subsection.
Director, Board of Risk and Insurance Management, $80,000; Director, Division of Rehabilitation Services, $70,000; Director, Division of Personnel, $70,000; Executive Director, Educational Broadcasting Authority, $75,000; Secretary, Library Commission, $72,000; Director, Geological and Economic Survey, $75,000; Executive Director, Prosecuting Attorneys Institute, $80,000; Executive Director, Public Defender Services, $70,000; Commissioner, Bureau of Senior Services, $75,000; Executive Director, Women’s Commission, $45,000; Director, Hospital Finance Authority, $35,000; member, Racing Commission, $12,000; Chairman, Public Service Commission, $85,000; members, Public Service Commission, $85,000; Director, Division of Forestry, $75,000; Director, Division of Juvenile Services, $80,000; Executive Director, Regional Jail and Correctional Facility Authority, $80,000; and Executive Director of the Health Care Authority, $80,000.
(c) Each of the following appointive state officers named in this subsection shall be appointed by the Governor, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. Each of the appointive state officers serves at the will and pleasure of the Governor for the term for which the Governor was elected and until the respective state officers’ successors have been appointed and qualified. Each of the appointive state officers are subject to the existing qualifications for holding each respective office and each has and is hereby granted all of the powers and authority and shall perform all of the functions and services heretofore vested in and performed by virtue of existing law respecting each office.
Commissioner, State Tax Division, $92,500; Insurance Commissioner, $92,500; Director, Lottery Commission, $92,500; Director, Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, $65,000; and Adjutant General, $125,000.
(d) No increase in the salary of any appointive state officer pursuant to this section may be paid until and unless the appointive state officer has first filed with the State Auditor and the Legislative Auditor a sworn statement, on a form to be prescribed by the Attorney General, certifying that his or her spending unit is in compliance with any general law providing for a salary increase for his or her employees. The Attorney General shall prepare and distribute the form to the affected spending units.
CHAPTER 10. PUBLIC LIBRARIES; PUBLIC RECREATION; ATHLETIC ESTABLISHMENTS; MONUMENTS AND MEMORIALS; ROSTER OF SERVICEMEN; EDUCATIONAL BROADCASTING AUTHORITY.
ARTICLE 5. EDUCATIONAL BROADCASTING AUTHORITY.
§10-5-2a. West Virginia distance learning coordinating council; creation; duties.
ARTICLE 2I. STAte-level leadership for professional development system.
§18-2I-1. Legislative purpose Professional development coordination and delivery; system goals.
§18-2I-3. Annual professional development master plan established by state board.
(b) To assist in the delivery of high quality professional development for teachers, principals and other school employees, the state board shall incorporate within the Department of Education a Center for Professional Development whose general mission shall be under the direction of the state board to advance the quality of teaching and learning in the schools of West Virginia through programs, technical assistance and support to schools and school systems to meet the legislative findings and goals of this article. The center shall perform other duties that may be assigned to it by the state board. In addition, the center shall provide statewide coordination for the continued growth and development of advanced placement programs in West Virginia high schools, including, but not limited to, serving as a liaison for The College Board, Inc., and providing for the training of advanced placement teachers.
(c) The state board shall submit a report on or before December 1 of each year on the effectiveness, efficiency and impact of the statewide professional development plan to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability.
(1) "State board" means the Secretary of the Department of Education and the arts Commerce, or where required by federal law, the board, commission or council designated by the Secretary of the Department of Education and the arts Commerce to oversee certain functions of the Division of Rehabilitation Services. All references in this code to the state board of vocational education, except where the context clearly indicates the provision of vocational education to other than disabled individuals, shall mean means the state board defined by this subsection.
(2) "Division" means the division of vocational rehabilitation established by this article.
(3) "Director" means the director of the division of vocational rehabilitation.
(4) "Employment handicap" means a physical or mental condition which constitutes, contributes to, or if not corrected will probably result in, an obstruction to occupational performance.
(5) "Disabled individual" means any person who has a substantial employment handicap.
(6) "Vocational rehabilitation" and "vocational rehabilitation services" means any services, provided directly or through public or private instrumentalities, found by the director to be necessary to compensate a disabled individual for his or her employment handicap and to enable him or her to engage in a remunerative occupation including, but not limited to, medical and vocational diagnosis, vocational guidance, counseling and placement, rehabilitation training, attendant care services, physical restoration, transportation, occupational licenses, occupational tools and equipment, including motor vehicles, maintenance, and training books and materials.
(7) "Rehabilitation training" means all necessary training provided to a disabled individual to compensate for his or her employment handicap including, but not limited to, manual, preconditioning, prevocational, vocational, and supplementary training and training provided for the purpose of achieving broader or more remunerative skills and capacities.
(8) "Physical restoration" means any medical, surgical, or therapeutic treatment necessary to correct or substantially reduce a disabled individual's employment handicap within a reasonable length of time including, but not limited to, medical, psychiatric, dental and surgical treatment, nursing services, hospital care not to exceed ninety days, convalescent home care, drugs, medical and surgical supplies, and prosthetic appliances, but excluding curative treatment for acute or transitory conditions.
(9) "Prosthetic appliance" means any artificial device necessary to support or take the place of a part of the body or to increase the acuity of a sense organ.
(10) "Occupational licenses" means any license, permit or other written authority required by any governmental unit to be obtained in order to engage in an occupation.
(11) "Maintenance" means money payments not exceeding the estimated cost of subsistence during vocational rehabilitation.
(12) "Regulations" means regulations made by the director with the approval of the secretary of the Department of Education and the arts Commerce or the state board.
(13) "Attendant care evaluation unit" means any agency certified by the division of vocational rehabilitation that employs a qualified evaluator to provide evaluations and attendant referrals such as the centers for independent living, the West Virginia Rehabilitation Center and any other unit approved by the division.
(15) "Attendant" means a self-employed individual who is trained to perform attendant care services and who works as an independent contractor.
(a) The Division of Rehabilitation Services is transferred to the Department of Education and the arts Commerce created in §5F-1-1 et seq. of this code. The secretary shall appoint any such board, commission, or council over the division to the extent required by federal law to qualify for federal funds for providing rehabilitation services for disabled persons. The secretary and such the boards, commissions or councils as he or she is required by federal law to appoint are authorized and directed to cooperate with the federal government to the fullest extent in an effort to provide rehabilitation services for disabled persons.
(b) References in this article or §18-10B-1 et seq. of this code to the state Board of Vocational Education, the state Board of Rehabilitation or the state board as the governing board of vocational or other rehabilitation services or facilities mean the Secretary of Education and the Arts Commerce. All references in the code to the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation mean the Division of Rehabilitation Services and all references to the Director of the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation means the Director of the Division of Rehabilitation Services.
The division shall be administered, under the general supervision and direction of the Secretary of the Department of Education and the arts Commerce or, if required by federal law his or her designated state board, by a director appointed by said the secretary, or if required by federal law his or her designated state board in accordance with established personnel standards and on the basis of his or her education, training, experience, and demonstrated ability.
(1) Appoint such personnel as he or she deems considers necessary for the efficient performance of the functions of the division.
(2) Establish a merit system of personnel management, or in lieu thereof, avail himself or herself of the services of the state merit system upon payment of a fair share of the expenses of the operation of such the system.
(4) Have the authority to establish and operate a staff development program for the employees of the division and may, in furtherance of such a program, and utilizing any funds appropriated or made available, for such purpose, pay to such the employees compensation or expenses, or both, while such the employees are pursuing approved training courses or academic studies for the purpose of becoming better equipped for their employment in such the division; such the staff development program shall be conducted subject to appropriate rules as adopted by the director and approved by the state board: Provided, That such these rules shall include reasonable provisions for the return of any employee, receiving the benefits of such training, for a reasonable period of duty, or for reimbursement to the state for expenditures incurred on behalf of the training of such employee.
(6) Prepare and submit to the Secretary of the Department of Education and the arts Commerce or his or her designated state board annual reports of activities and expenditures and, prior to each regular session of the Legislature, estimates of sums required for carrying out the provisions of this article and estimates of the amounts to be made available for this purpose from all sources.
(8) Take such other action as may be deemed determined necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes of this article.
(a) There is hereby established in the State Treasury a separate account which shall be designated the "West Virginia Rehabilitation Services Special Account". The director of rehabilitation services shall deposit promptly into the account all fees received for services provided by the West Virginia Rehabilitation Center from whatever source, including the federal government, state government or from other third-party payers or personal payments.
(b) A five-year West Virginia rehabilitation services long-range plan shall be developed by the director and shall be adopted by the Secretary of education and the arts Commerce. The West Virginia rehabilitation services' long-range plan shall be updated and revised at least every two years.
(c) The director is authorized to may expend the moneys deposited in the West Virginia Rehabilitation Services Special Account in accordance with federal laws and regulations and with the laws of this state as is necessary for the development of the five-year long-range plan and subsequent revisions.
(d) The director is authorized to may expend the moneys deposited in the West Virginia Rehabilitation Services Special Account as provided in the long-range plan at such times and in such amounts as the director determines to be necessary for the purpose of maintaining or improving the delivery of rehabilitation services: Provided, That during the budget preparation period which occurs prior to the convening of the Legislature, the director shall submit for inclusion in the executive budget document and budget bill his or her recommended capital expenditures, recommended priorities, estimated costs, and request for appropriations for maintaining or improving the delivery of vocational rehabilitation services.
(e) The director shall make an annual report to the Legislature on the status of the West Virginia Rehabilitation Services Special Account, including the previous year's expenditures and projected expenditures for the next year.
The division, under the direction of any federally mandated board, commission, or council appointed by the Secretary of the Department of Education and the arts Commerce, is authorized and directed to cooperate with the federal government in providing vocational evaluation and work adjustment services to disadvantaged individuals.
As used in this section, the term "disadvantaged individuals" means: (1) Disabled individuals as defined in §18-10A-1(5) of this code; (2) individuals disadvantaged by reason of their youth or advanced age, low educational attainments, ethnic or cultural factors, prison or delinquency records, or other conditions which constitute a barrier to employment; and (3) other members of their families when the provision of vocational rehabilitation services to family members is necessary for the rehabilitation of the individual described in subdivision (1) or (2) above.
§18-10K-2. Board created, membership, terms, officers and staff.
(a) There is hereby established the West Virginia traumatic brain and spinal cord injury rehabilitation fund board.
(11) Seven members appointed by the Governor who are either survivors of traumatic brain or spinal cord injury or family members of persons with traumatic brain or spinal cord injury.
(c) The citizen members shall be appointed by the Governor for terms of three years, except that of the members first appointed, two of the representatives of public and nonprofit private health organizations, disability coalitions or advisory groups and two of the representatives of survivors or family members of persons with traumatic brain or spinal cord injuries shall serve for terms of one year, two of the representatives of each of those respective groups shall serve for terms of two years and the remaining three representatives of each of those respective groups shall serve for terms of three years. All subsequent appointments shall be for three years. Members shall serve until the expiration of the term for which they have been appointed or until their successors have been appointed and qualified. In the event of a vacancy, the Governor shall appoint a qualified person to serve for the unexpired term. No member may serve more than two consecutive three-year terms. State officers or employees may be appointed to the board unless otherwise prohibited by law.
(d) In the event If a board member fails to attend more than twenty-five percent of the scheduled meetings in a twelve-month period, the board may, after written notification to that member and the Secretary of education and the arts Commerce, request in writing that the Governor remove the member and appoint a new member to serve his or her unexpired term.
(e) The board shall elect from its membership a chairperson, treasurer and secretary as well as any other officer as appropriate. The term of the chairperson is for two years in duration and he or she cannot may not serve more than two consecutive terms.
§18-10K-5. Fund created; administration of fund; administrative fees; fund use.
(a) There is created in the State Treasury a special revenue account to be known as the "West Virginia Traumatic Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Fund" which is under the jurisdiction of the Division of Rehabilitation Services. The West Virginia Traumatic Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Fund is subject to the annual appropriation of funds by the Legislature. The West Virginia Traumatic Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Fund may receive any gifts, grants, contributions, or other money from any source which is specifically designated for deposit in the fund.
(b) All moneys collected, received, and deposited into the State Treasury and credited to the West Virginia Traumatic Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Fund shall be expended by the board exclusively in accordance with the uses and criteria set forth in this article. Expenditures from this fund for any other purposes are void.
(c) The fund shall be administered by the Division of Rehabilitation Services under the Department of Education and the arts Commerce. The Division of Rehabilitation Services may retain an amount not to exceed ten percent per annum of the balance of the fund to cover any costs of administration of the fund.
(d) Nothing in this article may be construed to mandate funding for the West Virginia Traumatic Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Fund or to require any appropriation by the Legislature.
(e) Moneys in the fund shall be used to pay for services that will increase opportunities for and enhance the achievement of functional independence, and a return to a productive lifestyle for individuals who have suffered a traumatic brain injury or a spinal cord injury.
(g) Funds shall be expended according to the priorities and criteria for disbursement established by the board under §18-10K-6 of this code.
§18-10K-6. Criteria and priorities for use of fund.
(a) The board shall establish priorities and criteria for the disbursement of moneys in the fund. When the board determines that additional services should be eligible for payments from the fund, the chairman shall provide written notice to the Division of Rehabilitation Services in the Department of Education and the arts directing that those services be eligible for payment by the fund.
(b) The board shall investigate the needs of citizens with traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord injuries, identify the gaps in services to these citizens, and issue an annual report to the Legislature each year with recommendations for meeting the identified needs, improving coordination of services, and summarizing its actions during the preceding year.
(c) Moneys expended for services described under §18-10K-5 of this code shall be as a payer of last resort and only for citizens of this state. An individual shall use comparable benefits and services that are available prior to the expenditure of moneys available to that individual through the fund.
(f) Members appointed by the Governor serve a term of five years and are eligible for reappointment at the expiration of their terms. In the event of If there is a vacancy among appointed members, the Governor shall appoint a person representing the same interests to fill the unexpired term.
§18A-2-9. Duties and responsibilities of school principals; assistant principals.
(a) Upon the recommendation of the county superintendent of schools, the county board of education shall employ and assign, through written contract, public school principals who shall be the principal instructional leader of the school and shall supervise the management and the operation of the school or schools to which they are assigned to improve student performance and progress. Such The principals shall hold valid administrative certificates appropriate for their assignments.
(b)(1) Beginning on July 1, 1994, the prerequisites for issuance of an administrative certificate for principals shall include that the person has successfully completed at least six credit hours of approved course work in public school management techniques at an accredited institution of higher education and has successfully completed education and training in evaluation skills through the center for professional development, or equivalent education and training in evaluation skills approved by the state board.
(2) Beginning on July 1, 2019, the prerequisites for issuance of an administrative certificate for principals shall include that the person has successfully completed at least six credit hours of approved course work in public school instructional leadership and management techniques at an accredited institution of higher education, including, but not limited to, the standards for high quality schools, the school accreditation process and strategic planning for continuous improvement.
(c) Prior to employment as a principal or assistant principal, or in another administrative position the duties of which require conducting personnel performance evaluations, the principal, assistant or administrator shall successfully complete has successfully completed education and training in evaluation skills through the center for professional development, or equivalent education and training in evaluation skills approved by the state board.
(1) Shall assume administrative and instructional supervisory leadership responsibility for the planning, management, operation, and evaluation of the total educational program of the school or schools to which he or she is assigned.
(3) The principal Shall perform such other duties as may be assigned by the superintendent pursuant to the rules and regulations of the county board of education.
(e) Upon recommendation of the county superintendent of schools, the county board of education shall, when needed, employ and assign, through written contract, assistant principals who shall work under the direction of the school principal. Such assistant principals shall hold valid administrative certificates appropriate for their assignments.
(9) The State Board of Education shall may not deny a county board of education the right to place a principal in a school with less than one hundred seventy students.
§18A-2-12. Performance evaluations of school personnel; professional personnel evaluation process; restrictions on requirements on lesson plans and record keeping by classroom teachers.
(a) The state board shall adopt a written system for the evaluation of the employment performance of personnel, which system shall be applied uniformly by county boards in the evaluation of the employment performance of personnel employed by the board.
(b) The system adopted by the state board for evaluating the employment performance of professional personnel shall be in accordance with the provisions of this section.
(c) For purposes of this section, "professional personnel", "professional", or "professionals", means professional personnel and other professional employees, as defined in §18A-1-1 of this code but does not include classroom teachers, principals, and assistant principals subject to the evaluation processes established pursuant to §18A-3C-2 of this code.
(5) Provisions for a written improvement plan, which shall be specific as to what improvements, if any, are needed in the performance of the professional and shall clearly set forth recommendations for improvements, including recommendations for additional education and training during the professional's recertification or license renewal process.
(f) (e) A professional whose performance is considered to be unsatisfactory shall be given notice of deficiencies. A remediation plan to correct deficiencies shall be developed by the employing county board and the professional. The professional shall be given a reasonable period of time for remediation of the deficiencies and shall receive a statement of the resources and assistance available for the purposes of correcting the deficiencies.
(h) (g) Any professional whose performance evaluation includes a written improvement plan shall be given an opportunity to improve his or her performance through the implementation of the plan. If the next performance evaluation shows that the professional is now performing satisfactorily, no further action may be taken concerning the original performance evaluation. If the evaluation shows that the professional is still not performing satisfactorily, the evaluator either shall make additional recommendations for improvement or may recommend the dismissal of the professional in accordance with the provisions of §18A-2-8 of this code.
(i) (h) This subsection applies to all classroom teachers irrespective of the process under which they are evaluated.
(4) Nothing in §18A-3C-1 et seq. of this code may be construed to negate the provisions of this subsection.
§18A-3-1. Teacher preparation programs; program approval and standards; authority to issue teaching certificates.
(5) Continuing professional education, professional development, and in-service training programs for professional educators employed in the public schools in the state.
(D) Meets all of the requirements of the state for full certification except employment.
(c) The state board may enter into an agreement with county boards for the use of the public schools in order to give prospective teachers the teaching experience needed to demonstrate competence as a prerequisite to certification to teach in the West Virginia public schools.
(6) A provision authorizing a school or school district that has implemented a comprehensive beginning teacher induction program, to enter into an agreement that provides for the training and supervision of student teachers consistent with the educational objectives of this subsection by using an alternate structure implemented for the support, supervision and mentoring of beginning teachers. The agreement is in lieu of any specific provisions of this subsection and is subject to the approval of the state board.
(1) In lieu of the provisions of subsections (c) and (d) of this section and subject to approval of the state board, an institution of higher education with a program for the education of professional educators in the state approved by the state board may enter into an agreement with county boards for the use of teacher-in-residence programs in the public schools.
(2) A "teacher-in-residence program" means an intensively supervised and mentored residency program for prospective teachers during their senior year that refines their professional practice skills and helps them gain the teaching experience needed to demonstrate competence as a prerequisite to certification to teach in the West Virginia public schools.
(C) Specifics regarding the program of instruction for the teacher-in-residence setting forth the responsibilities for supervision and mentoring by the higher education institution's educator preparation program, the school principal, and peer teachers and mentors, and the responsibilities for the formal instruction or professional development necessary for the teacher-in-residence to perfect his or her professional practice skills. The program also may include other instructional items as considered appropriate.
(v) All state aid funding due to the county for the teacher-in-residence and not required for support of the program shall be paid as a stipend to the teacher-in-residence: Provided, That the stipend paid to the teacher-in-residence shall be no less than sixty-five percent of all state aid funding due the county for the teacher-in-residence.
(F) Other provisions that may be required by the state board.
(3) Enters into an agreement pursuant to subdivisions (g) and (h) of this section.
(v) Varied approaches for effective instruction for students who are at-risk.
(2) The minimum qualifications for the employment of school teachers selected as supervising teachers, including the requirement that field-based and clinical experiences be supervised by a teacher fully certified in the state in which that teacher is supervising.
(D) Is at least eighteen years of age on or before October 1 of the year in which his or her certificate is issued.
(2) A permit to teach in the public schools of this state may be granted to a person who is an exchange teacher from a foreign country or an alien person who meets the requirements to teach.
(4) Seminar programs for college students, teachers with provisional certification, professional support team members, and supervising teachers.
By mutual agreement, the institutions of higher education the center for professional development and county boards may budget and expend funds to operate the centers through payments to the appropriate fiscal office of the participating institutions the center for professional development and the county boards.
(k) The provisions of this section do not require discontinuation of an existing student teacher training center or school which meets the standards of the state board.
(l) All institutions of higher education approved for educator preparation in the 1962-63 school year continue to hold that distinction so long as they meet the minimum standards for educator preparation. Nothing in this section infringes upon the rights granted to any institution by charter given according to law previous to the adoption of this code.
(3) "Exceptional child" or "exceptional children" has the meaning ascribed to these terms pursuant to §18-20-1 of this code, but, as used in this section, the terms do not include gifted students.
§18A-3-1d. Alternative program rules; necessary contents.
(1) The state board shall promulgate a legislative rule or rules in accordance with §29A-3B-1 et seq. of this code containing procedures for the approval and operation of alternative teacher education programs as provided in this article. The State Board shall promulgate separate procedures for alternative programs for classroom teachers, alternative programs for highly qualified special education teachers, and additional alternative programs to prepare highly qualified special education teachers. These procedures shall be separate from the state board's other procedures for approving standard teacher education programs.
(3) (2) Before adopting a rule or rules, the state board shall submit its proposed rule or rules to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability for review.
(7) A list of the test or tests that a person must pass if he or she seeks a certification to teach in selected vocational and technical areas.
§18A-3-2c. Training through the principals academy Minimum qualities, proficiencies and skills required of principals; state board rule.
(a) Principal training and professional development required. -- After the effective date of this section and subject to the provisions of subsection (c) of this section, every principal shall complete training and professional development through the principals academy as provided in subsection (b) of this section.
(5) All persons serving as school principals shall complete training and professional development through the academy designed to build the qualities, proficiencies and skills required of all principals as determined by the state board.
(c) Academy and requirements to complete training and professional development subject to funding. -- The requirement that principals complete training and professional development through the academy shall be subject to the availability of funds for the principals academy from legislative appropriation and from other sources. If these funds are insufficient to provide for the total cost of the training and professional development required by subsection (b) of this section, then the academy shall provide training and professional development for the persons described in subdivisions (1) through (5), inclusive, subsection (b) of this section according to the priority in which the subdivisions appear in said subsection. If such funds are insufficient to provide for the training and professional development of all the persons described in one or more of subdivisions (1) through (5), inclusive, subsection (b) of this section, the academy is authorized to determine which persons described within the subdivision or subdivisions shall be admitted and which shall not be admitted: Provided, That the principals academy shall make every effort to ensure that all principals receive training and professional development through the academy at least once every six years effective July1, 2002, and thereafter: Provided, however, That nothing in this section shall be construed to require any specific level of funding by the Legislature.
(4) (5) Administrative skills, including, but not limited to, organizational, fiscal, public policy, and total quality management skills and techniques.
(e) Waivers. -- Any person desiring to be relieved of the requirements of all or any part of this section may apply in writing to the state board for a waiver. Upon a showing of reasonable cause why relief should be granted, the state board may grant a waiver, upon such terms and conditions as the state board shall determine proper, as to all or any part of this section.
(f) Failure to comply. -- Any person who fails or refuses to complete training and professional development through the academy, as required by the provisions of this section, and who fails to obtain a waiver, as described in subsection(e) of this section, shall be ineligible to be employed as, or serve in the capacity of, a principal.
(g) Tracking of requirement. -- On or before January 1, 1997, the state board shall establish a system to track the progress of each person required to complete training through the academy and shall regularly advise such persons of their progress.
§18A-3-8. County professional staff development councils.
The Legislature finds the professional expertise and insight of the classroom teacher to be an invaluable ingredient in the development and delivery of staff development programs which meet the needs of classroom teachers.
Therefore, a professional staff development council comprised of proportional representation from the major school levels and from vocational, special education and other specialties in proportion to their employment numbers in the county shall be established in each school district in the state in accordance with rules adopted by the State Board of Education. Nominations of instructional personnel to serve on the county staff development council may be submitted by the faculty senates of the district to the county superintendent who shall prepare and distribute ballots and tabulate the votes of the counties instructional personnel voting on the persons nominated. Each county staff development council shall consist of between nine and fifteen members at the discretion of the county superintendent based on the size of the county. The councils have final authority to propose staff development programs for their peers based upon rules established by statute and the council on professional education an analysis of the individual and collective needs of the schools of the county as indicated by their strategic plans.
The county superintendent or a designee has an advisory, nonvoting role on the council. The county board shall make available an amount equal to one tenth of one percent of the amounts provided in accordance with §18-9A-4 of this code and credit the funds to an account to be used by the council to fulfill its objectives. The local board has final approval of all proposed disbursements.
Any funds credited to the council during a fiscal year, but not used by the council, shall be carried over in the council account for use in the next fiscal year. These funds are separate and apart from, and in addition to, those funds to be credited to the council pursuant to this section. At the end of each fiscal year, the council shall report to each faculty senate chairperson the amount of funds carried over into the next fiscal year.
ARTICLE 3A. CENTER FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
§18A-3A-1. Center for Professional Development; intent and mission; Principals Academy curriculum and expenses; authorization to charge fees.
§18A-3A-3. Professional personnel evaluation project.
§18A-3A-5. West Virginia advanced placement center.
ARTICLE 3C. IMPROVING TEACHING AND LEARNING.
§18A-3C-1. Findings; purposes and definition.
(4) Although the quality of the teacher in the classroom is extremely important to the academic achievement of students, students cannot learn if they are not in the classroom present to receive the instruction. Therefore, attending school on a regular basis is of utmost importance to the academic success of students.
(5) The creation of a leadership culture that seeks and builds powerful alliances among all stakeholders focused on continuous growth in student learning.
(c) For purposes of this article "professional personnel" includes classroom teachers, assistant principals, and principals as defined in §18A-1-1 of this code.
§18A-3C-2. Performance evaluations of professional personnel.
(2) Eighty percent of the evaluation shall be based on an appraisal of the principal's or the assistant principal's ability to perform the critical standard elements of the professional leadership standards and achieve the goals established for the principal and the school. Fifteen Twenty percent of the evaluation shall be based on evidence of the learning of the students assigned to the school in accordance with paragraph (C), subdivision (1) of this subsection. and five percent of the evaluation shall be based on student learning growth measured by the school-wide score on the state summative assessment in accordance with paragraph (D), subdivision (1) of this subsection.
(7) Serve as documentation for a dismissal on the grounds of unsatisfactory performance.
(f) The rule adopted by the state board shall include standards for the performance of professional personnel and the criteria to be used to determine whether their performance meets the standards. The rule also shall include guidance on best practices for providing time within the school day for teachers and leaders subject to performance evaluations under this section to participate in the collaborative mentoring or coaching and planning processes necessary for execution of the performance evaluation process and achieving advanced levels of performance.
(g) The rule adopted by the state board shall include provisions for written improvement plans when necessary to improve the performance of the professional personnel. The written improvement plan shall be specific as to what improvements are needed in the performance of the professional personnel and shall clearly set forth recommendations for improvements including recommendations for additional education and training of professionals subject to recertification. Professional personnel whose performance evaluation includes a written improvement plan shall be given an opportunity to improve his or her performance through the implementation of the plan.
(h) A professional person whose performance is considered to be unsatisfactory shall be given written notice of his or her deficiencies. A written improvement plan to correct these deficiencies shall be developed by the employing county board and the employee. The professional person shall be given a reasonable period of time, not exceeding twelve months, to accomplish the requirements of the improvement plan and shall receive a written statement of the resources and assistance available for the purposes of correcting the deficiencies. If the next performance evaluation shows that the professional is now performing satisfactorily, no further action may be taken concerning the original performance evaluation. If the evaluation shows that the professional is still not performing satisfactorily, the evaluator either shall make additional written recommendations for improvement or may recommend the dismissal of the professional personnel in accordance with the provisions of §18A-2-8 of this code.
(i) No person may evaluate professional personnel for the purposes of this section unless the person has an administrative certificate issued by the state superintendent and has successfully completed education and training in evaluation skills through the center for professional development, or equivalent education training approved by the state board which will enable the person to make fair, professional, and credible evaluations of the personnel whom the person is responsible for evaluating.
(j) Prior to implementation of the evaluation process pursuant to this section at a school, each affected employee shall be given training to ensure that the employees have a full understanding of the purposes, instruments, and procedures used in evaluating their performance. Thereafter, this training shall be held annually at the beginning of the employment term.
§18A-3C-3. Comprehensive system for teacher and leader induction and professional growth.
(a) The intent of the Legislature is to allow for a multistep statewide local-level implementation of a comprehensive system systems of support for building professional practice of beginning teachers, specifically those on the initial and intermediate progressions, consistent with sound educational practices and resources available. In this regard, it is the intent of the Legislature that the transition of schools and school systems to a comprehensive system systems of support that includes shall incorporate support for improved professional performance that is targeted on deficiencies identified through the educator personnel evaluation process and other professional development needs identified in the strategic plans for continuous improvement of schools and school systems. will be implemented concurrent with the first year that a school or system receives final evaluation results from the performance evaluation process pursuant to section two of this article Further, because of significant variability among the counties, not only in the size of their teaching force, distribution of facilities and available resources, but also because of their varying needs, the Legislature intends for the implementation of this section to be accomplished in a manner that provides adequate flexibility to the counties to design and implement a comprehensive system of support for improving professional performance that best achieves the goals of this section within the county. Finally, because of the critical importance of ensuring that all teachers perform at the accomplished level or higher in the delivery of instruction that at least meets the West Virginia Professional Teaching Standards and because achieving this objective at a minimum entails providing assistance to address the needs as indicated by the data informed results of annual performance evaluations, including the self-assessed needs of the teachers themselves, the Legislature expects the highest priority for county regional, and state professional development will be on meeting these needs and that the transition to a comprehensive system systems of support for improving professional practice will reflect substantial redirection of existing professional development resources toward this highest priority.
(b) On or before July 1, 2012 July 1, 2018, the state board shall publish guidelines on the design and implementation of a county-level comprehensive system of support for improving professional practice. The purpose of the guidelines is to assist the county board with the design and implementation of a system that best achieves the goals of this section within the county. The guidelines may include examples of best practices and resources available to county boards to assist them with the design and implementation of a comprehensive system.
(8) (9) The manner in which the county will monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of implementation and outcomes of the county system of support for improving professional practice.
(f) (e)The Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability shall review the progress of the implementation of this article and may make any recommendations it considers necessary to the Legislature during the 2013 2019 regular legislative session.
(1) The Secretary of Education and the Arts, ex officio.
(5) (4) Three at-large members who are designated as higher education representatives, appointed by the Governor, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate; for each of the higher education representatives, the Governor shall choose from recommendations made by any state college and university or exempted school and the Governor may request additional recommendations from state colleges and universities or exempted schools if in the governor in his or her sole discretion determines that additional recommendations are necessary for appointments to the commission.
(1) To aid in decision-making, the chancellor appoints an advisory committee consisting of the Executive Director of the West Virginia Development Office or designee; the Secretary of Education and the Arts or designee the Assistant State Superintendent for Technical and Adult Education; the Chair of the West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education; the Chair of the West Virginia Workforce Investment Council; the Executive Director of Workforce West Virginia; one member representing the Herbert Henderson Minority Affairs Office, two members representing business and industry; and one member representing labor. The advisory committee shall review all applications for workforce development initiative grants and make recommendations for distributing grant funds to the council. The advisory committee also shall make recommendations on methods to share among the community and technical colleges any curricula developed as a result of a workforce development initiative grant.
§18B-11-4. Depositories for assistive devices and services.
§18B-11-6. National institute for teaching excellence established.
§18B-16-5. Powers and duties of the vice chancellor.
(k) (j) Perform such other duties as may be prescribed by this article or as may be necessary to effectuate the provisions of this article.
(a) The primary health care education sites established under this article shall be supported financially in part from line item appropriations to the university of West Virginia health sciences account. Funds shall be distributed to the state's schools of medicine upon consideration of the recommendations of the vice chancellor. Appropriations to the university of West Virginia health sciences account to support the rural health initiative shall be by line item, with at least one line item designated for primary health education program support at the schools of medicine and at least one line item designated for rural health initiative site support.
(b) The vice chancellor shall require each school of medicine to submit a detailed proposal which shall state, with specificity, how each school of medicine will be working to further the goals and meet the criteria set forth in this article and the amount of appropriation which would be needed by each school to implement the proposal.
The vice chancellor shall, giving consideration to such the proposals, prepare a comprehensive plan to be presented to the board of trustees, which plan shall include a recommendation for allocations of moneys appropriated for program support and a recommendation for the allocation of moneys designated for support of the primary health care education sites commensurate with each school's level of participation in such sites.
(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of §12-3-12 of this code, any funds appropriated to the board of trustees Higher Education Policy Commission in accordance with the provisions of this section that remain unallocated or unexpended at the end of any fiscal year shall not expire, shall remain in the line item to which they were originally appropriated and shall be available in the next fiscal year to the board of trustees or a school of medicine for allocation or expenditure for the purposes of this article.
(d) The rural health initiative shall also be supported, in part, from appropriations made to the secretary of the Department of Education and the arts, under a separate line item for the board of directors of the state college system for the rural health initiative, for distribution to participating health education programs under the board of directors. Appropriations shall not be expended or allocated until the required plan has been approved by the vice chancellor in accordance with section three, article three of this chapter.
(e) (d) Additional financial support shall come from fees generated by services, from grants and contracts, and from community resources. Any fees so generated shall be paid to and expended by the facility established as a primary health care education site unless an alternative fee arrangement is mutually agreed upon by the chief administrator of the site and the vice chancellor for health sciences.
(a) The Science and Research Council is hereby established. For the purposes of this article only, "council" means the Science and Research Council established herein.
§29-24-3. Board created, membership, terms, officers and staff.
(a) The technology-related assistance revolving loan fund for individuals with disabilities board created by chapter 247 Acts of the Legislature, regular session, 1996, is hereby continued.
(5) Three members from the public at large who are users or providers of technology-related assistance devices or services for individuals with disabilities. Members shall be appointed by the Governor, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, for terms of three years. Members appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate prior to the effective date of this section shall continue to serve for the terms for which they were appointed. State officers or employees may be appointed to the board unless otherwise prohibited by law.
(c) In the event a board member fails to attend more than twenty-five percent of the scheduled meetings in a twelve-month period, the board may, after written notification to that member and the secretary of education and the arts Secretary of Commerce, request in writing that the Governor remove the member and appoint a new member to serve his or her unexpired term.
(d) In the event of If there is a death, resignation, disqualification, or removal for any reason of any member of the board, the vacancy shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment and the successor shall serve for the unexpired term.
(e) The board shall elect from its membership a chairperson, treasurer, and secretary as well as any other officer as appropriate. The term of the "chairperson" is for two years in duration and he or she cannot serve more than two consecutive terms.
§29-24-5. Power, duties and responsibilities of the board; loans.
(9) Conform to the standards and requirements prescribed by the State Auditor.
(2) The applicant has the ability to repay the loan. Any necessary loan limitation shall be determined by the board. All loans must be repaid within such terms and at such interest rates as the board may determine to be appropriate. However, no loan may extend beyond sixty months from date of award and may be paid off anytime without prepayment penalty. The board shall determine the interest rate to be charged on loans made pursuant to this article, but in no event may the interest rate on any such loans be less than four or more than twenty-one percent per annum.
(c) The board may authorize loans up to ninety percent of the cost of an item or items.
(2) To assist one or more individuals with disabilities to become more independent members of the community and improve such individuals quality of life within the community through the purchase of technology-related devices.
(e) In the event of the If there is a failure of the borrower to repay the loan balance due and owing, the board shall seek to recover the loan balance by such legal or administrative action available to it. Persons or representatives of persons who default on a loan are not eligible for a new loan. The board shall retain ownership of all property, equipment, or devices until the borrower's loan is paid in full.
(f) A new loan may not be issued to, or on behalf of, a disabled person if a previous loan made to, or on behalf of, such person remains unpaid.
(g) The board may charge a fee for loan applications and processing. All funds generated by fee charges shall be directly placed into the revolving loan fund to off-set the costs of application processing.
The board may accept federal funds granted by Congress or executive order for the purposes of this chapter as well as gifts and donations from individuals, private organizations, or foundations. The acceptance and use of federal funds does not commit state funds and does not place an obligation upon the Legislature to continue the purposes for which the federal funds are made available. All funds received in the manner described in this article shall be deposited in the revolving loan fund to be disbursed as other moneys in the revolving loan fund.

References: §10
 §18
 §18
 §18
 §18
 §18
 §18
 §18
 §18
 §18
 §4
 §5
 §5
 §5
 §5
 §6
 §18
 §18
 §18
 §18
 §18
 §18
 §18
 §18
 §18
 §18
 §18
 §18
 §18
 §18
 §18
 §18
 §18
 §18
 §18
 §18
 §18
 §18
 §18
 §18
 §18
 §18
 §29
 §29

§4

§5

§5
 §5
 §21
 §22
 §5
 §18
 §31
 §22
 §10
 §10
 §22
 §62
 §29
 §17
 §9
 §5
 §5
 §5
 §5

§6

§10

§18

§18
 §5
 §18
 §18

§18

§18
 §18

§18
 §18

§18

§18
 §18
 §18
 §18
 §18

§18
 §18

§18
 §29

§18

§18
 §18

§18

§18

§18

§18
 §18

§18
 §18

§18

§18

§18

§18
 §12

§29

§29