This bill addresses the legal framework surrounding public employee strikes and the instructional requirements for schools in West Virginia. It reaffirms that public employees, including those in education, do not have the right to strike or engage in collective bargaining, mediation, or arbitration, declaring any such actions unlawful. The bill emphasizes that work stoppages by county board of education employees disrupt the educational system and outlines specific conditions under which employees are considered to be participating in a concerted work stoppage or strike.

Additionally, the bill modifies Section 18-5-45 of the code, replacing the previous requirement of "at least 180 separate instructional days" with a new standard of "a required number of hours" for the instructional term. It clarifies that provisions allowing for equivalent instructional time and alternative methods of instruction do not apply to days lost due to strikes, and it prohibits the state board from granting waivers for noncompliance with the minimum employment and instructional term requirements if the noncompliance is due to a strike. Furthermore, it establishes that employees participating in a strike will have their pay withheld for each day of participation, which is considered grounds for termination.