Bill > SB502

This bill, known as the Women’s Collegiate Sports Protection Act, aims to safeguard and enhance women's collegiate Olympic sports programs in West Virginia by establishing permanent endowment funding. The legislation recognizes the valuable educational and leadership opportunities these programs offer and addresses their financial instability. It defines key terms such as "Commission" (the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission), "Eligible institution" (a public college or university with women's sports), "Qualified contribution" (private donations to a women's athletics endowment), "Verified cost savings" (documented reductions in spending through efficiencies), and "Women’s athletics endowment" (a permanent fund where only earnings can be spent). The bill allows eligible institutions to create these endowments, with the Commission potentially overseeing a statewide trust. Importantly, it introduces a system of "efficiency-based matching funds," where institutions can receive state matching contributions to their endowments based on verified cost savings achieved through operational efficiencies, provided these savings do not negatively impact academic programs or Title IX compliance. Earnings from these endowments can only be used for specific expenses directly related to women's sports, such as scholarships, coaching, equipment, and facilities. The bill also mandates annual reporting from institutions to the Commission and from the Commission to the Legislature, along with periodic audits, to ensure transparency and compliance with Title IX, the federal law prohibiting sex-based discrimination in education programs receiving federal funding. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2026.