Bill > HB2718

This bill establishes a State Advisory Council on Establishing a Military College in West Virginia, composed of seven voting members appointed by the Governor and four non-voting members representing key state agencies and educational institutions. The council's primary purpose is to study the feasibility and potential benefits of creating a military college in the state, with specific focus areas including the social and civic impact, potential locations, fiscal considerations, funding sources, Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) program development, and potential admission standards and curricula. The council will select a chairperson and vice chairperson, hold meetings at least quarterly, and is required to hire an executive director within 60 days of its first meeting. A special revenue fund will be created to support the council's activities, with members eligible for expense reimbursement but not additional compensation. The council is mandated to submit biannual reports to the Legislative Joint Committee on Government and Finance, with the first report due in January 2026. The advisory council is set to terminate on June 30, 2028, providing a defined timeline for its exploration of establishing a military college that aims to cultivate and produce excellent leaders of good character to serve the state.