Bill Text: WV HB4226 | 2018 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Eliminating the competency testing requirement for school service personnel
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 3-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-01-19 - To House Education [HB4226 Detail]
Download: West_Virginia-2018-HB4226-Introduced.html
WEST virginia legislature
2018 regular session
Introduced
House Bill 4226
By Delegates Shott, Ellington and Gearheart
[Introduced January 19,
2018; Referred
to the Committee on Education.]
A BILL to amend and reenact §18A-4-8e, of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; relating to eliminating the competency testing requirement for school service personnel.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
ARTICLE 4. SALARIES, WAGES AND OTHER BENEFITS.
§18A-4-8e. Competency testing for
service personnel; and recertification Certification testing for bus
operators.
(a) The state board
shall develop and make available competency tests for all of the classification
titles defined in section eight of this article and listed in section eight-a
of this article for service personnel. The board shall review and, if needed,
update the competency tests at least every five years. Each classification
title defined and listed is considered a separate classification category of employment
for service personnel and has a separate competency test, except for those
class titles having Roman numeral designations, which are considered a single
classification of employment and have a single competency test.
(1) The cafeteria
manager class title is included in the same classification category as cooks
and has the same competency test.
(2) The executive
secretary class title is included in the same classification category as
secretaries and has the same competency test.
(3) The classification
titles of chief mechanic, mechanic and assistant mechanic are included in one
classification title and have the same competency test.
(b) The purpose of these
tests is to provide county boards a uniform means of determining whether school
service personnel who do not hold a classification title in a particular
category of employment meet the definition of the classification title in
another category of employment as defined in section eight of this article.
Competency tests may not be used to evaluate employees who hold the
classification title in the category of their employment.
(c) The competency test
consists of an objective written or performance test, or both. Applicants may
take the written test orally if requested. Oral tests are recorded mechanically
and kept on file. The oral test is administered by persons who do not know the
applicant personally.
(1) The performance test
for all classifications and categories other than bus operator is administered
by an employee of the county board or an employee of a multicounty vocational
school that serves the county at a location designated by the superintendent
and approved by the board. The location may be a vocational school that serves
the county.
(2) A standard passing
score is established by the state Department of Education for each test and is
used by county boards.
(3) The subject matter
of each competency test is commensurate with the requirements of the
definitions of the classification titles as provided in section eight of this
article. The subject matter of each competency test is designed in such a
manner that achieving a passing grade does not require knowledge and skill in
excess of the requirements of the definitions of the classification titles.
Achieving a passing score conclusively demonstrates the qualification of an
applicant for a classification title.
(4) Once an employee
passes the competency test of a classification title, the applicant is fully
qualified to fill vacancies in that classification category of employment as provided
in section eight-b of this article and may not be required to take the
competency test again.
(d) An applicant who
fails to achieve a passing score is given other opportunities to pass the
competency test when applying for another vacancy within the classification
category.
(e) Competency tests are
administered to applicants in a uniform manner under uniform testing
conditions. County boards are responsible for scheduling competency tests,
notifying applicants of the date and time of the test. County boards may not
use a competency test other than the test authorized by this section.
(f) When scheduling of
the competency test conflicts with the work schedule of a school employee who
has applied for a vacancy, the employee is excused from work to take the
competency test without loss of pay.
(g) Competency tests are
used to determine the qualification of new applicants seeking initial
employment in a particular classification title as either a regular or
substitute employee.
(h) Notwithstanding any
provisions in this code to the contrary, once an employee holds or has held a
classification title in a category of employment, that employee is considered
qualified for the classification title even though that employee no longer
holds that classification.
(i) The requirements of
this section do not alter the definitions of class titles as provided in
section eight of this article or the procedure and requirements of section
eight-b of this article
(j) Notwithstanding any other provision of this code to
the contrary and notwithstanding any rules of the school board concerning
school bus operator certification, the certification test for school bus
operators shall be required as follows, and school bus operators may not be
required to take the certification test more frequently:
(1) For substitute school bus operators and for school bus operators with regular employee status but on a probationary contract, the certification test shall be administered annually;
(2) For school bus operators with regular employee status and continuing contract status, the certification test shall be administered triennially; and
(3) For substitute school bus operators who are retired from a county board and who at the time of retirement had ten years of experience as a regular full-time bus operator, the certification test shall be administered triennially.
(4) School bus operator certificate.
(A) A school bus operator certificate may be issued to a person who has attained the age of twenty-one, completed the required training set forth in state board rule, and met the physical requirements and other criteria to operate a school bus set forth in state board rule.
(B) The state superintendent may, after ten days' notice and upon proper evidence, revoke the certificate of any bus operator for any of the following causes:
(i) Intemperance, untruthfulness, cruelty or immorality;
(ii) Conviction of or guilty plea or plea of no contest to a felony charge;
(iii) Conviction of or guilty plea or plea of no contest to any charge involving sexual misconduct with a minor or a student;
(iv) Just and sufficient cause for revocation as specified by state board rule; and
(v) Using fraudulent, unapproved or insufficient credit to obtain the certificates.
(vi) Of the causes for certificate revocation listed in this paragraph (B), the following causes constitute grounds for revocation only if there is a rational nexus between the conduct of the bus operator and the performance of the job:
(I) Intemperance, untruthfulness, cruelty or immorality;
(II) Just and sufficient cause for revocation as specified by state board rule; and
(III) Using fraudulent, unapproved or insufficient credit to obtain the certificate.
(C) The certificate of a bus operator may not be revoked for either of the following unless it can be proven by clear and convincing evidence that the bus operator has committed one of the offenses listed in this subsection and his or her actions render him or her unfit to operate a school bus:
(i) Any matter for which the bus operator was disciplined, less than dismissal, by the employing county board; or
(ii) Any matter for which the bus operator is meeting or has met an improvement plan determined by the county board.
(D) The state superintendent shall designate a review panel to conduct hearings on certificate revocations or denials and make recommendations for action by the state superintendent. The state board, after consultation with employee organizations representing school service personnel, shall promulgate a rule to establish the review panel membership and composition, method of appointment, governing principles and meeting schedule.
(E) It is the duty of any county superintendent who knows of any acts on the part of a bus operator for which a certificate may be revoked in accordance with this section to report the same, together with all the facts and evidence, to the state superintendent for such action as in the state superintendent's judgment may be proper.
(F) If a certificate has been granted through an error, oversight or misinformation, the state superintendent may recall the certificate and make such corrections as will conform to the requirements of law and state board rules.
(5) The state board shall promulgate, in accordance with §29A-3B-1 et seq. of this code, revised rules in compliance with this subsection.
NOTE: This purpose of this bill is to eliminate the competency testing requirement for school service personnel.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.
