The "Recharge West Virginia Act" establishes a new program aimed at facilitating the upskilling of workers in West Virginia. The program, administered by the Division of Economic Development, allows qualifying employers to receive reimbursement for costs associated with providing upskilling training to eligible employees who obtain industry-recognized credentials and achieve a qualifying wage increase. Employers can receive up to $10,000 per employee and a maximum of $100,000 per fiscal year. The act outlines specific eligibility criteria for both employees and employers, as well as the application process and requirements for reimbursement.

Additionally, the act includes provisions to prevent duplicative reimbursements, requiring employers to certify that they are not seeking reimbursement for the same training costs under other state-funded programs. Employers must also maintain detailed records related to the training and wage increases for a minimum of five years, which are protected from public disclosure. The Division of Economic Development is tasked with creating rules and guidelines to implement the program effectively, including emergency rules to expedite the process.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 5B-2P-1, 5B-2P-2, 5B-2P-3, 5B-2P-4, 5B-2P-5
Committee Substitute: 5B-2P-1, 5B-2P-2, 5B-2P-3, 5B-2P-4, 5B-2P-5
Engrossed Committee Substitute: 5B-2P-1, 5B-2P-2, 5B-2P-3, 5B-2P-4, 5B-2P-5
Enrolled Committee Substitute: 5B-2P-1, 5B-2P-2, 5B-2P-3, 5B-2P-4, 5B-2P-5