[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6106165,"mediaKeyId","2784302-43856250a1af8784180e570e662a1ae3","parentId",2784302,"title","Committee backs market-based pay enhancement for teachers, capping increase at 50% of county average pay","audioSeconds",737,"startMs",333000,"endMs",1070000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2784302-43856250a1af8784180e570e662a1ae3&start=333&end=1070","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2784302-43856250a1af8784180e570e662a1ae3/thumbnail_333000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6106165/West-Virginia/Committee-backs-market-based-pay-enhancement-for-teachers-capping-increase-at-50-of-county-average-pay","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6106165-c409fb496b5fc9cd8bed95072e880456/orig.mp4?Expires=1771179550&Signature=Sl8EqfbCNOR9kczTIRbOWAKkTRrdeZzPbt4Obn-t7Srd0-MXFhOaaIyc7oipvHSi8jGXzeA7LeVIILZTdbtipMIsMCYI5uTHjSfR5uoS-DE87c51Xeu9GQiSEQRe8w89~-2c8HiwXJXLOXSJDexwZNaDm5vPG6HW58oKZveCjI4njTcvho-Sb2w4KpSY8jVOPx3hxo-dWvScd2QetXHjB1nUy3sGj6CBYBlyasTnuxkW9tV2hL1vLazVrvKk3hS0ANSwSHN5wqaQRd4iujieaXnl3DhlEdCzvOSqGya14f6hQAt5FTNzaSc0MLJqaWaq0H~KngLt4JP~TYnb4y3vSA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","West Virginia Legislature","date","2025-03-26T00:00:00Z","article","The Senate Finance Committee voted to report a committee substitute for Senate Bill 506 to the full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass. Committee counsel described the substitute as a market pay enhancement intended to help retain certified classroom teachers in West Virginia counties where housing costs create higher local market pressure.

Under the committee substitute for the committee substitute, the State Board of Education must calculate three median home-price figures for the immediately preceding calendar year: the West Virginia median, each regional median and each county median. Two multipliers will be calculated: one by subtracting the West Virginia median from the regional median and dividing that by the West Virginia median, and the second by subtracting the West Virginia median from the county median and dividing by the West Virginia median. The higher multiplier will be used to determine the market pay enhancement for a county.

The substitute requires the calculation to be done annually, with the first calculation to occur in December 2026 and the first pay enhancement to take effect July 1, 2027. The substitute includes a proviso capping the market pay enhancement at 50% of the average teacher base pay for the county and clarifies that the enhancement is in addition to any amount on the state minimum salary schedule. The bill requires reporting on market pay enhancements to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance and grants rulemaking authority to the State Board of Education.

Committee counsel said the Department of Education provided preliminary numbers showing Jefferson County could see the highest enhancement—\"somewhere around $25,000\"—while some counties would calculate to zero and therefore receive no enhancement in certain years. Counsel said about 25 counties would receive an enhancement under the current calculations but emphasized those figures could change when official calculations are done.

Senators asked multiple questions about duration and mechanics: counsel confirmed the substitute converts what had been described as a one-time payment into an ongoing salary enhancement, that the enhancement uses average teacher base pay as the cap benchmark, and that a county determines eligibility based on the county in which the teacher is employed, not the teacher's residence. Several senators noted the policy aim is to reduce teacher losses to neighboring states by partially offsetting housing-cost-driven wage gaps.

The vice chairman moved that the committee substitute be reported to the full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass. The chair called a voice vote; the chair declared \"the ayes have it\" and the motion was adopted. The committee record does not include a roll-call tally.

Background and fiscal notes: Counsel said the committee substitute was prepared with the Department of Education and that a revised fiscal note was not available at the committee hearing. Counsel noted the calculations reference median home-price data sourced through the National Association of Realtors and that the State Board will be required to perform annual calculations.

Next steps: The bill was reported to the full Senate; the State Board of Education rulemaking and the December 2026 calculation will determine precise county impacts and dollar amounts.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","WV Senate Finance Committee in Session Mar 26, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Senate Finance Committee voted to report a committee substitute for Senate Bill 506 to the full Senate with a recommendation that it pass; the substitute sets a formula based on median home prices to determine a market pay enhancement for certified classroom teachers.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature WV, West Virginia","taxId",77714,"location","West Virginia","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":44,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6106169,"Committee approves option for home confinement officers to transfer PERS service into EMS retirement system",111,222000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2784302-43856250a1af8784180e570e662a1ae3&start=222&end=333","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2784302-43856250a1af8784180e570e662a1ae3/thumbnail_222000.jpg","/articles/6106169/West-Virginia/Committee-approves-option-for-home-confinement-officers-to-transfer-PERS-service-into-EMS-retirement-system","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6106169-6c7b31e1af85b486e9f8a01adc7b327d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771179550&Signature=bSufjxDVaHsFVaykqVeHV9GxWK-XmDT0g3584m-mDyWqoCgwwrR2CBEG0mmr9YRFisGGfa-QA9tc0CPoFTQZrvgtYI0DPqjGIunX1mYv4DS6FFdJPs76Zpp0w1UY8CZE6Y2q41flT-JtqaUJnuOhhc5pHk8Jkp6TXPetgteKkBIf~lOFRqndqn47Ixbrl-oW6mRx7hR0-wYk-u1LN8WFWmhhJedaY8Z1gEGFeU13LepWd6lVUtAUjBjugwdwaVa3DE4t7IKBxSYdLmi03S3rsHST7iwVu7ACorGug9vY-MNFurMWYRyaosYm46mRuVbHkq9Q3YbPVZqhhuUVkDIMGw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Finance Committee voted to report a committee substitute for Senate Bill 874 to the full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass. Committee counsel described the substitute as permitting current home confinement officers to stop participating in the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) and begin participating in the Emergency Medical Services Retirement System if they choose.

Counsel said the substitute defines home confinement officers as members eligible for the EMS plan and sets out a process for transferring service from PERS to the EMS retirement system. \"The new section is modeled off the 9/11 transfer from PERS to the Emergency Medical Services Retirement System that occurred during the 2023 regular session,\" counsel said, adding that the substitute also describes the administrative process by which home confinement officers will enter the EMS system.

The counsel emphasized that transfers would be handled to avoid \"make-up contributions\" when possible and that service would be prorated so any time credited in PERS receives commensurate treatment if moved into EMS treatment. No fiscal figures or appropriation details were provided in the committee transcript. The vice chairman moved to report the committee substitute to the full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass; the chair called a voice vote and declared the motion adopted.

Next steps: The bill was reported to the full Senate. Implementation of transfers will depend on administrative rules and the Consolidated Public Retirement Board's processes as noted in the substitute.","The committee reported a committee substitute for Senate Bill 874 recommending passage; the measure would allow current home confinement officers to stop participating in PERS and opt into the Emergency Medical Services Retirement System, with transfer rules modeled on a 2023 PERS-to-EMS transfer.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6106174,"Senate committee backs $4,000 pay increase for state mine inspectors",74,136000,210000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2784302-43856250a1af8784180e570e662a1ae3&start=136&end=210","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2784302-43856250a1af8784180e570e662a1ae3/thumbnail_136000.jpg","/articles/6106174/West-Virginia/Senate-committee-backs-4000-pay-increase-for-state-mine-inspectors","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6106174-f107708f70e211f68246d5548f4e3577/orig.mp4?Expires=1771179550&Signature=Yklwq1SFs0NEoiIsTlk9YakVqbQUMbqV9jGnjiblXKWv9ORkj3fFRl9-vThjcA9rn2mqbxzifwcd6P6hySMIVGb7YkmPBdgHxkl3EMFFXSzLTwNWK3R~V2vTJJMEKU2dwcB5skby4xZl384JriRQbjXeKjl-d3sPXYOXjpRtUpsIu2aGc6h8aMTFJsAmqcnxKsOqXCpFphW8GCsXYIBgdiKq6etiNJCRcezfjkNkGArowB4W9zSKnAlNZQq0P22Csc7JwlujBlM1QPnGfLV6FGNgO9RW1l8sLfGLgd8DVBjJVZq1Y5CBZGOAoPc6Z2UWym6xTTNppHM3R5IWwmJB6w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Finance Committee voted to report a committee substitute for Senate Bill 708 to the full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass. Committee counsel explained the measure provides a $4,000 salary increase for state mine inspectors, including electrical inspectors, underground inspectors and surface inspectors.

The measure matters because it affects inspectors who enforce safety and training standards in West Virginia mines. Committee counsel said the pay increase would apply to \"any other class of inspector that's described in Chapter 22A,\" the chapter governing the Office of Miners' Health, Safety and Training. \"There is a fiscal note to this bill and it is just shy of half a million dollars a year with these raises,\" counsel said.

Committee counsel told senators that the majority of the fiscal impact—about $430,000—would come from the state's general revenue fund. There were no amendments offered during the committee meeting and the vice chairman moved that the committee substitute be reported to the full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass. The chair called a voice vote; the chair declared \"the ayes have it\" and the motion was adopted.

No individual roll-call vote totals or dissenting votes were recorded in the committee transcript. The bill was reported to the full Senate for consideration.

Background: Counsel said the bill was referred to the Finance Committee after coming from the Committee on Energy, Industry and Mining, where a prior committee substitute made only technical changes. The bill references Chapter 22A, which governs the Office of Miners' Health, Safety and Training and the classification of mine inspectors.

Next steps: Because the committee simply reported the committee substitute to the full Senate with a recommendation that it pass, further consideration and any final votes will occur on the Senate floor or in subsequent legislative action.","The Senate Finance Committee voted to report a committee substitute for Senate Bill 708 to the full Senate recommending passage; the bill would provide a $4,000 annual salary increase for state mine inspectors, with an estimated fiscal impact just under $500,000 and roughly $430,000 paid from general revenue.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6106160,"Committee approves reporting of bill to allow fixed-odds wagering on dog and horse racing",105,1079000,1184000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2784302-43856250a1af8784180e570e662a1ae3&start=1079&end=1184","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2784302-43856250a1af8784180e570e662a1ae3/thumbnail_1079000.jpg","/articles/6106160/West-Virginia/Committee-approves-reporting-of-bill-to-allow-fixed-odds-wagering-on-dog-and-horse-racing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6106160-fa28c6a96ff96d227b344dbf943d04ac/orig.mp4?Expires=1771179550&Signature=HSuxcCi51BscXWy-FKqi~uGI9YMccHHCVUCvrTU9b0~Qfk9Vr62xiZbi2y3tjwXjMuTiP0mkvWK4kNsElbG2JfR1brsSEsDPLpmfqUUEfTeKCMLOULsKOJBLI-n64p8XZ4x8VyaJqxKsLqMt6o~gzX4yDe9d1BymIuCNKVT~obYAKj8ejpITEyVekQifrk1OhLdI0HNiC31Cvv9kEJkvqMuZd46UNlJWieLqCYKL7JAziNXvEG~J6~Xeh4ooexybtJNLplRTXoc7jeNyS3jYg-g7ell6aF2uUqmA834C1t-tC-Bcw7vC8bg8ayuVGN1cUMD1GkeCY0jBZD4J3MtyEg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Finance Committee voted to report a committee substitute for Senate Bill 576 to the full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass. Committee counsel described the bill as authorizing fixed-odds wagering for dog and horse racing, subject to licensing and regulation by the racing commission.

Counsel said fixed-odds wagering allows a bettor to place a bet at predetermined odds. The substitute restricts fixed-odds wagering to licensed operators, licensed gaming facilities or licensed management service providers and prohibits racing officials—owners, trainers, jockeys and related employees—from placing wagers. The bill establishes two interest-bearing funds, one dedicated to dog racing and one to horse racing, and prescribes the distribution percentages of adjusted gross wagering receipts; funds may be invested and will be used for repairs, improvements and maintenance on licensed racetrack facilities within the state.

Counsel said the bill gives the racing commission rulemaking authority to implement fixed-odds wagering. There were no amendments recorded in committee and the vice chairman moved that the committee substitute be reported to the full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass. The chair called a voice vote; the chair declared \"the ayes have it\" and the motion was adopted.

Next steps: The committee reported the substitute to the full Senate. The racing commission would be responsible for drafting implementing rules if the measure becomes law.","The committee reported a committee substitute for Senate Bill 576 to the full Senate recommending passage; the substitute permits licensed operators to offer fixed-odds wagering on dog and horse races, creates separate interest-bearing funds for each racing type and restricts wagering by racing officials.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee backs market-based pay enhancement for teachers, capping increase at 50% of county average pay

Committee approves option for home confinement officers to transfer PERS service into EMS retirement system

Senate committee backs $4,000 pay increase for state mine inspectors

Committee approves reporting of bill to allow fixed-odds wagering on dog and horse racing