Bill > HB2737

This bill establishes the Higher Education Health and Aid Grant Program, which requires the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission to create a grant program addressing food, health, and hygiene insecurities among students at state higher education institutions. The program allows institutions to receive grants to establish on-campus food and health aid pantries, with funds specifically designated for purchasing shelf-stable food, medical and hygiene supplies, and disposable tableware. Grant recipients must maintain detailed inventory records and provide monthly reports and receipts to the Chancellor of the Higher Education Policy Commission. Institutions are required to track items purchased, distributed, and remaining in stock, and the Chancellor will determine grant amounts based on each institution's compliance with the established criteria. Within one year of the program's establishment, the Chancellor must submit a comprehensive report to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability, detailing grant awards, funding rationales, the program's impact on reducing student insecurities, and recommendations for future expansion. The grant program is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, with the ultimate goal of supporting students' basic needs and reducing barriers to educational success.