Bill > HB4446

This bill establishes the West Virginia Fire Fighter Education pilot program, a four-year initiative designed to provide Fire Fighter I and Fire Fighter II education to eligible students, including high schoolers, in four designated counties: Kanawha, Ohio, Mineral, and Raleigh. The program will utilize qualified fire service instructors and approved curricula, as defined by the West Virginia State Fire Commission and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), to train both current and future firefighters. The West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission will cover tuition and academic fees for eligible students, and instructors will be employed by West Virginia University Fire Service Extension. The program is set to begin by July 1, 2026, with instruction commencing no later than the 2026-2027 school year, and will sunset on June 30, 2031, unless extended by the Legislature. The Chancellors of the West Virginia Community and Technical College System and the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission will submit annual reports to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability detailing program participation, student outcomes, expenditures, and recommendations for the program's future, which will then be reviewed and reported to the Legislature.

Education

http://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/Bills_history.cfm?input=4446&year=2026&sessiontype=RS&btype=bill