§18-5-19f. Adult education taskforce.

(a) The Legislature finds that:

(1) While adult learning centers are part of the West Virginia Department of Education, that department is not obligated to fund these adult learning centers;

(2) Funding for adult learning centers derives its income from many areas without any regularity;

(3) A taskforce to study and consider funding options, the existing funding sources, and the best approach to provide direct funding for the adult learning centers would stabilize the regularity of funding these centers.

(b) The State Superintendent of Schools shall establish in the West Virginia Department of Education a taskforce to consider options for direct funding of adult education learning centers.

(c) The taskforce shall include at a minimum the State Superintendent of Schools, or his or her designee, the head of the adult education learning centers, and geographically diverse representatives from the community, including, but not limited to, representation from business and the community college system, appointed by the State Superintendent of Schools, in consultation with the Chancellor for Community and Technical College Education.

(d) The State Superintendent of Schools shall determine the number of members of the taskforce and eligibility to serve.

(e) The meetings of the taskforce shall be open to the public and follow the Open Governmental Meetings Act.

(f) The taskforce shall be created and begin its meetings on or before July 1, 2024, and submit a report of recommendations to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability by December 1, 2024.

(g) The provisions of the section shall sunset on December 31, 2025.