The proposed bill aims to enhance workforce development in West Virginia by establishing the West Virginia Micro-Credential Program, which will be overseen by the Secretary of the Department of Commerce. This program is intended to recognize skills acquired through project-based and experiential learning, enabling students and employees to earn micro-credentials that can be shared with educational institutions and employers. Additionally, the bill expands tax credits for apprenticeship training programs, modifies tax regulations to include contributions to voluntary portable benefits plans, and allows hiring parties to contribute to these benefits for independent contractors without creating an employer-employee relationship. It also removes the requirement for military-trained applicants to pass a proficiency examination for professional licensure and clarifies their qualifications.

Key provisions include the introduction of new sections in the West Virginia Code that outline the standards for the Micro-Credential Program and modifications to tax laws that incentivize contributions to portable benefits plans. The bill allows taxpayers to subtract these contributions from their taxable income, promoting participation. It also emphasizes providing independent contractors with access to affordable benefits and addresses barriers to professional licensure for military-trained applicants. Significant changes include authorizing the Director of the Division of Labor to create legislative rules, defining terms related to military training, and mandating licensing boards to issue licenses to qualified military-trained applicants without initial application fees, while allowing for ordinary renewal fees and third-party charges.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 11-13W-1, 30-1B-2, 5B-1-11, 11-21-12o, 11-24-6d, 21-18-1, 21-18-2, 21-18-3, 21-18-4, 21-18-5