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Bus Operator Shortage Focus Of House Bill

The bill would allow retired bus drivers to come back to work after their 140-day limit on employment. It’s a plan to make up for a statewide shortage of bus drivers after COVID-19 caused many to retire earlier than expected. In December, the state was operating with 300 fewer bus drivers than its normal average of 4,000.

The House of Delegates’ Education Committee passed a bill Monday that would formally announce a bus operator shortage statewide. 

The bill would allow retired bus drivers to come back to work after their 140-day limit on employment. It’s a plan to make up for a statewide shortage of bus drivers after COVID-19 caused many to retire earlier than expected. In December, the state was operating with 300 fewer bus drivers than its normal average of 4,000.

It drew comparisons during discussion to a current policy in place for retired teachers. They would submit an affidavit to their county Board of Education that is sent to the state board for final approval.

During a state Board of Education meeting in November, it was reported that a waiver of state Policy 4336, which outlines school bus transportation regulations, had then only led to 16 bus drivers coming out of retirement or transferring their out of state certification. But legislators are hoping this bill’s passage can draw more attention to the shortage.

“There’s an extreme shortage of bus drivers in many of our counties, from kids sitting on multiple buses going to different schools, taking buses back to other schools, to kids having to sit on the floor because there’s no space for them,” said Del. Wayne Clark, R-Jefferson, vice chair of the House Education Committee.

The bill has been sent to the House Finance Committee for further review. If passed, it returns to the House floor with a recommendation that it be passed there as well.

Senate Passes Bill Changing State’s Unemployment Benefits

Senate Bill 59 makes several changes to the system of unemployment benefits in the state.

Senate Bill 59 makes several changes to the system of unemployment benefits in the state.

Sen. Tom Takubo, R-Kanawha, is the lead sponsor of the bill. He says the bill aims to help target benefits fraud that saw a spike during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“For example, I got contacted that I had filed for unemployment and all these benefits were kicking in. Obviously having been a pulmonary physician during 2020- 2021, it’s the busiest I’ve ever been,” he said. “But it’s outside entities, it’s foreign governments trying to get in, break into our system, computer hackers. So there’s always going to be more fraud. What this does is gives more latitude to us as a workforce development state to be able to defend against those fraudulent activities.”

Takubo also said the bill aims to alleviate the burden of the unemployment tax on the state’s businesses. 

“Everybody thinks of a big corporation when you think of employers but in West Virginia, over 90 percent of the employment is small businesses, and those small businesses are having to pay a very high tax levied to pay for unemployment,” Takubo said.

He said the bill ultimately aims to modernize the state’s unemployment laws to reflect the modern workforce and work environment and try to help more people get back to work.

“What we believe we can use this bill for is to help match jobs that are good jobs for people looking for those, and improve our workforce participation,” Takubo said. “We’re still the worst in the country. Part of that may be that they’re having more difficulty, so this bill will address some of that.”

If passed, the bill would require a job search, with the help of Workforce West Virginia, as a condition of receiving unemployment benefits. If a recipient of unemployment refuses the offer of what the bill calls a “suitable” job, their benefits could be reduced. 

Takubo said the bill isn’t intended to penalize anyone. 

“We’re not trying to pass legislation that guarantees you the perfect job,” he said. “What we are trying to do is get people back into the workforce because we do believe that one job will springboard to the next, to the next to get you to what you feel suitable, and what you enjoy doing for a living.”

The bill also reducess the maximum number of weeks applicants can receive unemployment benefits from 26 weeks to 20.

Sen. Mike Caputo, R-Marion, voiced his opposition to the changes during discussion of the bill on the Senate floor. He drew from his own experience of being on unemployment, and said the changes Senate Bill 59 makes are too harsh on workers.

“When things got a little slow in the mining industry, and myself and my friends got laid off, we wanted to go back to work, we wanted to go back to work desperately, but sometimes things just weren’t available to us,” he said. “There was a time when folks were laid off for years. Sometimes things get extremely tough, and sometimes 26 weeks is not enough. But I’ll tell you what I do know,  I do know that 12 is not enough. And I do know that 20 is not enough when you’re trying to pay the light bill.”

Caputo also questioned why the government had no issue helping corporations, but couldn’t do the same for workers.

“We hand out things to corporations all the time, and I’m supportive of that, because we believe it brings jobs to West Virginia, and we all want people to succeed and have good employment, and we hand it out constantly,” he said. “But when it comes to workers, it seems like it’s a constant beat down. I just don’t get it.” 

Takubo said Senate Bill 59 is just one tool in the state’s toolbox to address workforce issues, and they are always looking for more.

“We’re trying to look at all facets to help as many West Virginians as we possibly can. And so one thing I would say is legislators are all ears,” he said. “What we need is all the help we can get. So anybody out there that has ideas that maybe would help us with this, or any piece of legislation, please let us know.”

The bill will head over to the House of Delegates for consideration.

West Virginia Receives Funding For Juvenile Justice System

West Virginia is getting more than $620,000 to help kids who are incarcerated and prevent others from entering the criminal justice system, two U.S. senators announced.

West Virginia is getting more than $620,000 to help kids who are incarcerated and prevent others from entering the criminal justice system, two U.S. senators announced.

“It’s important that we do all we can to make sure people feel safe and support efforts that help prevent crime in the first place,” Republican U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito said in a press release. “This funding does just that by focusing on building that trust by helping young West Virginians stay away from crime and to help their communities.”

Capito made the announcement last week with Democrat U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin. The two West Virginia senators sit together on the Senate Appropriations Committee.

The U.S. Department of Justice funding will support nine program areas within West Virginia’s juvenile justice system. They include community-based programs; programs designed to prevent and reduce hate crimes committed by juveniles; projects designed to protect juvenile civil rights; programs designed to provide mental health services for incarcerated juveniles; and programs to address the disproportionate number of youth members of minority groups who enter the juvenile justice system.

Reporter Roundtable Reflects On First Full Week Of 2023 Session

On this episode of The Legislature Today, the pace is beginning to pick up at the West Virginia Legislature as bills are passing through their originating chambers. WVPB reporters Yohe and Chris Schulz are joined by Crystal Good, the founder and publisher of Black By God | The West Virginian, for a reporter roundtable.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, the pace is beginning to pick up at the West Virginia Legislature as bills are passing through their originating chambers.

The House Committee on Health and Human Resources passed a bill Thursday, which would require medical marijuana be added to the controlled substance monitoring database. Our Appalachia Health News Reporter Emily Rice has more.

A presentation before the House Jails and Prison Committee on Thursday sparked alarm over critical understaffing and public safety issues. Government Reporter Randy Yohe has the story.

Also, the House Health and Human Resources Committee advanced a bill this week that would limit medical care options for transgender minors. As Curtis Tate reports, it’s part of a nationwide push against the rights of transgender youth and their parents.

And finally, WVPB reporters Yohe and Chris Schulz are joined by Crystal Good, the founder and publisher of Black By God | The West Virginian, for a reporter roundtable.

Having trouble viewing the video below? Click here to watch it on YouTube.

The Legislature Today – January 20, 2023

The Legislature Today is West Virginia’s only television/radio simulcast devoted to covering the state’s 60-day regular legislative session.

Watch or listen to new episodes Monday through Friday at 6 p.m. on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

Senate Education Committee Advances Bill On Early Childhood Literacy

State education leaders are pushing for early childhood intervention in schools to ensure literacy. Those efforts are now starting to move through the legislature.

State education leaders are pushing for early childhood intervention in schools to ensure literacy. The renewed focus comes after state and national test results in 2022 showed steep declines in reading and math scores. Those efforts are now starting to move through the legislature.

The Senate Education Committee took up Senate Bill 274 Thursday morning. The bill, titled the “Third Grade Success Act,” enacts several changes to how literacy is taught from Kindergarten through third grade, which is considered a crucial period for lifetime reading skills.

Sen. Mike Oliverio, R-Monongalia, initially expressed concern that the legislation was not in line with what teachers in classrooms actually wanted or needed, and lacked a focus on math, but was convinced by the day’s discussion.

“We’ve been talking about really transforming how we teach reading to children in West Virginia,” he said. “Clearly, we’ve identified there’s a problem. And we want to look for a solution. And this legislation is designed to do that.”

Oliverio also serves on the Senate Finance Committee where Senate Bill 274 heads next. He hopes to get more perspective on the bill’s proposals from teachers between committee meetings.

“Then on finance with that positive feedback that I hope I receive, and what appears to be success in other jurisdictions around the country, I’ll be supportive of funding this initiative, and really recognizing that there are few things more important, if any, than making sure that our children are learning and maturing properly,” Oliverio said.

State Superintendent David Roach has been championing early childhood literacy as a core component of the Department of Education’s “Ready, Read, Write West Virginia” initiative. He said he was pleased to see the legislature take action on the issue.

“I think it’s wonderful for our children, I think it gives help to our teachers,” Roach said. “We’re going to be asking to implement the science of reading. We will be training our paraprofessionals. Our teachers will also be thrilled because they’ll have a partner trying to help the students, because we have a wide range of students coming into the classroom, and I think it’d be a great success with their addition.”

A key component of the legislation, and Roach’s approach to early literacy, is to increase individual intervention by bringing more aides and reading coaches into the classroom. The bill also aims to reduce class sizes and redefine the acceptable ratio of instructors and students in a classroom.

“It’s so critical for our children to read to be successful. And without being able to read proficiently, we are really kind of shutting doors on their future, and I think every child deserves an open door,” Roach said.

“I’m excited. The science of reading actually shows the brain changing. There’s evidence that the components of phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, plus writing changes the pathway in the brain, and our children can read.”

Superintendent Roach said Senate Bill 274 represents a collaboration between the Department of Education, the Legislature, and the governor.

“It takes all of us, the whole state, our agencies that come together to make this happen, and for it to be successful, because our agency alone cannot do it,” he said. “It takes truly the whole state.”

Although literacy is his first priority, Roach said the Department of Education will present a similar improvement plan for mathematics this spring.

Senate Judiciary Advances Campus Carry Bill

The Senate Judiciary Committee advanced a bill to the Senate floor Thursday that would allow the concealed carry of handguns on the state’s university campuses.

The Senate Judiciary Committee advanced a bill to the Senate floor Thursday that would allow the concealed carry of handguns on the state’s university campuses.

Senate Bill 10 would allow holders of concealed handgun permits to carry concealed on all of the state’s higher education campuses, regardless of existing restrictions. The presidents of the state’s leading public universities have said they oppose the measure.

Eleven other states currently require colleges and universities to allow concealed carry including Arkansas, Kansas and Georgia which all passed similar legislation in 2017.

While SB 10 does exclude many on campus locations from concealed carry, the law ultimately limits schools’ ability to restrict handguns on campus, and requires the institutions to provide gun safes in dormitories.

Sen. Jay Taylor, R-Taylor, said the bill protects Second Amendment rights.

“This is allowing everyone to have their Second Amendment rights so that they’re able to defend themselves,” he said. “It’s a dangerous world out there, and I think when people are free to exercise their Second Amendment rights, it’s a safer world.”

Sen. Mike Caputo, D-Marion, was the sole objector to the bill, questioning the bill’s safety, as well as the financial and logistical responsibility it introduces for schools.

“I think it’s a huge burden that we’re putting on the universities,” he said. “I think it’s going to be a huge cost. I think it’s gonna be a huge headache, and I just hope and pray that we’re not having a conversation about how this was a bad idea.”

Within moments of the committee convening Wednesday afternoon, Marshall University President Brad Smith and West Virginia University President Gordon Gee tweeted out a joint statement.

“We…support local control, and we believe that our boards of governors are best suited to decide whether guns should be permitted on campus. We therefore do not support statewide campus carry,” the statement reads.

“Whether it is mental health challenges facing some students, discussion about grades, recruitment of new students and faculty, or the protection of open and honest debate of ideas, we are concerned about inserting firearms into these types of situations,” they said.

The statement also asked that if such a bill were passed, that it include best practices and safeguards related to campus carry as established in other states, such as not allowing concealed carry at venues with more than 1,000 spectators, in laboratories with hazardous substances or in campus day cares.

Many of the listed restrictions, including the above, are already included in the body of the bill.

A revised version of SB 10 was reported to the Senate at large, and is expected to be taken up on first reading Friday, Jan. 20.

Four similar bills, one in the Senate and three in the House, have been introduced so far this session primarily under the title “The Campus Self-Defense Act.”

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