West Virginia Senate Bill SCR23

West Virginia 2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/31/25
• Report Pass: 3/31/25
• Engrossed: 4/1/25
• Refer: 4/2/25

Caption

Requesting Joint Committee on Government and Finance study WV Secondary School Activities Commission

Summary

Senate Concurrent Resolution 23 requests that the Joint Committee on Government and Finance study the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission (SSAC). The study is directed to examine the commission’s mission, how effectively it carries out that mission, whether it could operate more efficiently, and whether it is sufficiently transparent and accountable. The resolution also asks whether a formal performance evaluation of the commission would be appropriate. The resolution explains that the SSAC is funded through ticket revenue and corporate sponsorships rather than tax dollars, but it performs functions delegated by county boards of education involving interscholastic athletics and extracurricular activities in public secondary schools. It notes that these activities are part of the state’s broader system of free schools and that the Legislature has a constitutional role in ensuring a thorough and efficient system of education. The study is to include input from coaches, parents, and athletes, and the Joint Committee is to report findings and any recommended legislation to the 2026 regular session.

Impact

SCR23 does not directly amend the West Virginia Code or change SSAC governance immediately. Instead, it creates a legislative study directive that could lead to future statutory changes affecting West Virginia Code §18-2-25 and the relationship between county boards of education and the SSAC. The resolution also authorizes use of legislative appropriations to cover the study’s expenses and any resulting draft legislation.

Sentiment

The overall sentiment appears supportive of reviewing the SSAC rather than opposing it outright. The resolution’s findings suggest concern that the commission may need greater scrutiny, efficiency, transparency, and accountability, and the fact that a related reform bill drew more than 20 sponsors is cited as evidence of broad legislative interest. There is no recorded vote or committee transcript in the provided materials, but the measure’s tone is reform-oriented and investigative rather than punitive.

Contention

The main point of contention is the SSAC’s role and oversight structure. Supporters of the resolution appear concerned that the commission exercises significant authority over student athletics and extracurricular activities without enough transparency or accountability, even though it is not funded by tax dollars. Another issue is whether the SSAC should be evaluated more like a public body because it performs delegated functions of county boards of education and affects families directly. The resolution also implicitly raises the question of how much control the Legislature should exert over an organization that is formally separate from state funding but closely tied to public education.