The bill introduced on March 19, 2025, aims to amend and reenact section 18-2-25 of the Code of West Virginia, establishing the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission Reform Act. This legislation grants public charter schools the authority to control, supervise, and regulate all extracurricular activities for their students, while allowing them to delegate interscholastic athletic events and band activities to the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission. The commission will now consist of athletic directors or their representatives from participating secondary schools and will be restructured as a state agency, rather than a nonprofit corporation. The bill also mandates the creation of a school classification system based on a competitive balance formula and outlines the appointment process for the commission's executive director by the Governor, with provisions for due process in rule violations.

Additionally, the bill modifies eligibility requirements for students from nonpublic schools, including homeschoolers and participants in the Hope Scholarship Program, to participate in extracurricular activities. It removes certain requirements for these students and allows them to be charged the same fees as public school students. Existing commission rules will remain in effect until amended or repealed, ensuring a smooth transition to the new regulatory framework. Overall, the bill seeks to enhance the governance and oversight of extracurricular activities in West Virginia's secondary schools.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 18-2-25