The bill amends sections 18B-17-2 and 18B-17-3 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, to grant the Higher Education Policy Commission and the Community and Technical College Education Council the authority to implement various legislative rules related to higher education. This includes rules concerning the Accountability System, the Underwood-Smith Teaching Scholars Program, and the Teacher Loan Repayment Program. The bill also authorizes rules filed in the State Register from 2004 to 2024, covering a range of programs aimed at enhancing higher education in West Virginia. Additionally, it introduces amendments such as citizenship requirements for financial aid applicants and changes to the guidelines for employing and evaluating presidents of institutions, while repealing certain outdated rules to streamline the regulatory framework.

Furthermore, the bill addresses the West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education, authorizing rules related to tuition and fees, degree-granting institutions, human resources administration, and capital project management, with rules filed from 2011 to 2024 being officially recognized. It also repeals certain rules, including those concerning advanced placement credit and the accountability system, indicating a shift in focus. The amendments in capital project management emphasize efficient resource use, prioritization of funding based on institutional plans, and the necessity for campus development plans to receive approval from governing bodies, thereby enhancing accountability and effective resource management within community and technical colleges in West Virginia.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 18B-17-2, 18B-17-3
Engrossed Version: 18B-17-2, 18B-17-3
Enrolled Version: 18B-17-2, 18B-17-3