The proposed bill aims to establish the West Virginia Officials Training Program Act, which will create a comprehensive training program for local public officials and board members, administered by the State Auditor's Office. The program will include a tiered certification system, with various levels of training focused on essential governance skills, such as fiscal oversight, ethics, and crisis management. The State Auditor will oversee curriculum development, training delivery, and certification standards, while also creating a Local Governance & Training Division to facilitate the program's implementation. Participation in the program will be voluntary but strongly encouraged, and it will be available to a wide range of public officials, including county commissioners, municipal leaders, and members of various boards and commissions.

Additionally, the bill outlines the establishment of a Statewide Local Governance Performance Dashboard to track training participation and governance needs, as well as provisions for national cooperation and funding sources for the program. The State Auditor will be responsible for submitting annual reports on program outcomes and will have the authority to propose rules for its implementation. Furthermore, all local-official training responsibilities previously held by other state entities will be transferred to the State Auditor, ensuring a unified approach to training and professional development for public officials in West Virginia.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 6-15-1, 6-15-2, 6-15-3, 6-15-4, 6-15-5, 6-15-6, 6-15-7, 6-15-8, 6-15-9, 6-15-10, 6-15-11, 6-15-12, 6-15-13, 6-15-14, 6-15-15