This bill aims to amend the Code of West Virginia by adding a new section, 18-28-8, which focuses on ensuring equal treatment for private and parochial schools in the context of school building construction. The legislation highlights that these schools have been subjected to more stringent regulations compared to public schools, particularly regarding the construction process. The bill emphasizes the need for consistency in the treatment of all types of schools to promote fairness in the construction and building of educational facilities.

To implement this equal treatment, the bill mandates that any state permitting agency, as well as county and municipal regulations, must apply the same standards to private and parochial schools as they do to public schools. This includes various aspects such as building permits, fees, safety standards, wastewater management, septic systems, and the overall timeliness of the permitting process. The intent of the bill is to rectify the disparities in treatment and ensure that private and parochial schools are afforded the same opportunities and requirements as their public counterparts in the construction of school buildings.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 18-28-8