This bill proposes significant amendments to the Code of West Virginia aimed at increasing the annual salaries of key state employees, specifically members of the West Virginia State Police, public school teachers, and school service personnel. The effective date for these salary increases has been adjusted to July 1, 2026, replacing the previously proposed date of July 1, 2024. The bill introduces a structured salary schedule for the West Virginia State Police, which includes provisions for length of service increases and supplemental pay, while ensuring that these members are excluded from state wage and hour laws. Additionally, the minimum salary provisions for teachers and school service personnel are amended, changing the effective school year for state minimum salaries for teachers from 2024-2025 to 2026-2027 and establishing a new minimum monthly pay scale for service employees starting July 1, 2026.

Furthermore, the bill establishes a minimum daily pay rate for members of asbestos crews engaged in asbestos-related duties outside their regular employment county, ensuring that the daily rate is at least the minimum established in the employee's regular employment county, plus an additional $30 for each day spent on asbestos removal tasks. This additional compensation will be funded entirely by county resources. The bill also mandates that service personnel involved in asbestos removal complete a federal Environmental Protection Act-approved training program and be licensed, with employers responsible for providing necessary protective equipment and maintaining required records. Additionally, it clarifies the criteria for aides to qualify for additional pay, specifying that an aide is exercising supervisory authority if they supervise or provide services to children without direct supervision from a certified professional. Overall, the bill aims to enhance the compensation framework for essential state employees in West Virginia.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 15-2-5, 18A-4-2, 18A-4-8a