The proposed bill aims to establish the "Governor's Cup Challenge," a new initiative designed to provide scholarships for high school student-athletes who have participated in athletic extracurricular activities but did not receive an athletic scholarship to an in-state institution of higher education. The bill introduces a new section, 18C-1-4a, to the Code of West Virginia, which outlines the framework for this challenge, including the organization of annual athletic contests between Marshall University and West Virginia University. The contests will be held in NCAA Division 1 sports, with the winning institution earning points towards the overall challenge title.

Additionally, the bill stipulates that 20% of the net profits from various revenue sources related to the athletic contests will be allocated to the newly created "West Virginia Athlete Scholarship Fund." This fund will distribute 65% of its balance to the annual champion for scholarships at their institution and 35% to the runner-up for similar purposes. The oversight of the Governor's Cup Challenge and the scholarship fund will be managed by the vice chancellor for administration, ensuring proper administration and monitoring of the initiative.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 18C-1-4a