The proposed bill aims to establish the West Virginia Firefighter Education Pilot Program, which will be implemented in four counties: Kanawha, Ohio, Mineral, and Raleigh. This program is designed to provide quality training in firefighting education to eligible students, including high school students, through community and technical colleges. The program will offer instruction on Fire Fighter I and Fire Fighter II courses, facilitated by qualified fire service instructors. The initiative seeks to enhance community involvement, support the recruitment and retention of qualified firefighters, and fulfill the training requirements set by the West Virginia State Fire Commission.

The pilot program is set to commence no later than July 1, 2026, and will last for four years, with a sunset date of June 30, 2031. The West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission will oversee the program's implementation and will cover tuition and academic fees for eligible students. Additionally, annual reports will be submitted to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability, detailing student participation, credits earned, program expenditures, and recommendations for the program's future. The bill emphasizes the importance of firefighter education and aims to create a sustainable framework for training the next generation of firefighters in West Virginia.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 18B-3G-1, 18B-3G-2, 18B-3G-3