This bill amends and reenacts section 18-2-25 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, to require the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission to promulgate legislative rules regarding the control, supervision, and regulation of interscholastic athletic events and extracurricular activities. The bill specifies that the commission will establish rules for private and parochial secondary schools that choose to delegate authority to the commission, ensuring they are subject to the same terms and conditions as public schools. Additionally, it includes provisions for the commission to incorporate as a nonprofit entity and outlines the financial responsibilities of county boards of education towards the commission.

Furthermore, the bill expands eligibility for participation in interscholastic athletic events to home-schooled students, participants in the Hope Scholarship Program, and those in microschools or learning pods, provided they meet specific academic and age requirements. It also allows students enrolled in private schools to participate in public school extracurricular activities if those activities are not offered at their private institution. The bill emphasizes that all rules promulgated by the commission must be approved by the state board and includes a provision that rules established before December 1, 2026, will be considered valid even if they do not comply with certain procedural requirements.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 18-2-25