The bill amends West Virginia Code 18A-2-5 to eliminate the requirement for cooks and custodians employed by county boards of education to possess a high school diploma or a general educational development certificate (GED) as a condition of employment. Previously, the law mandated that all new hires, with certain exceptions, must have obtained a high school diploma or GED or be enrolled in an adult education course aimed at obtaining a GED. This requirement will no longer apply to cooks and custodians, thereby broadening the pool of potential candidates for these positions.

In addition to this significant change, the bill maintains existing provisions regarding the employment of service personnel, including the necessity for written contracts and the stipulations surrounding employment conditions. The bill is set to take effect immediately upon passage, reflecting a legislative intent to streamline hiring practices for essential school service roles while ensuring that other employment regulations remain intact.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 18A-2-5
Committee Substitute: 18A-2-5
Engrossed Committee Substitute: 18A-2-5
Enrolled Committee Substitute: 18A-2-5