The proposed bill introduces the Workforce-Education Partnership Act, which aims to incentivize business owners in West Virginia to contract their employees to participate in vocational programs and high school classes. This initiative is designed to foster economic growth and strengthen workforce development while ensuring compliance with worker classification laws and maintaining educational employment standards. The bill outlines definitions for key terms such as "vocational programs," "high school classes," and "business owner," and establishes a framework for educational contracts between business owners and educational institutions. Employees participating in these programs will retain their employment status and benefits while engaging in educational activities.

Additionally, the bill provides a tax credit for business owners who contract their employees for educational purposes, allowing them to claim 100% of the employees' gross wages paid during their participation, capped at $50,000 per tax year and a total of $5 million statewide per fiscal year. The legislation emphasizes fiscal responsibility by ensuring minimal administrative costs to the state and mandates that the West Virginia Department of Tax and Revenue and the Department of Education oversee the program's implementation and compliance. The bill also includes provisions for reporting and transparency regarding tax credit utilization and the overall impact on workforce development in the state.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 11-13NN-1