This bill amends the Code of West Virginia to allow currently serving members of county school boards to retain their positions while campaigning for other public offices. Specifically, it modifies section 18-5-1a by deleting the prohibition against holding any other public office during a campaign and inserting language that explicitly permits current board members to maintain their roles while running for other offices, regardless of whether those elections are partisan. Additionally, it clarifies that candidates for county boards who are not currently serving may hold another public office if they resign before taking the oath of office for the county board.

The bill also outlines the eligibility requirements for county board members, including citizenship, residency, and training requirements. It maintains existing provisions regarding political activities that members may or may not engage in, and it establishes a process for obtaining advisory opinions from the West Virginia Ethics Commission regarding potential conflicts of interest. Overall, the legislation aims to provide greater flexibility for county school board members in their political pursuits while ensuring they meet necessary qualifications and training standards.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 18-5-1a