House Bill 2819 aims to amend the Code of West Virginia by introducing a new section, 18-8-2a, which establishes penalties for county and state boards of education that provide misinformation to parents, custodians, and other individuals. The bill stipulates that a fine of $500 will be imposed for each incident of misinformation communicated through various channels, including letters, emails, and social media. Additionally, it outlines specific instances of misinformation related to homeschooling, such as incorrect guidance on filing a Notice of Intent and misleading claims about homeschool diplomas and public school participation.

Furthermore, the bill imposes a more substantial fine of $5,000 for misinformation disseminated through official websites and social media platforms, with an additional daily fine of $100 for ongoing misinformation. It also includes penalties for failure to file paperwork for HOPE Scholarship recipients, requiring boards to pay the amount of the lost scholarship directly to affected families. The collected fines are intended to promote compliance with legal standards and protect the rights of parents and guardians in the educational process.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 18-8-2a