West VirginiaWest Virginia runs summer jobs program for youth ages 14 to 20
The Commerce Department runs summer jobs and career learning for West Virginia youth ages 14 to 20, with spending generally requiring legislative approval.
What it does
The Department of Commerce runs a statewide summer jobs program for West Virginia youth ages 14 to 20, with work experience and career learning tied to job needs.
Employers that receive grants must pay youth at least minimum wage and use the money for their participants’ wages, training, transportation, or related costs. The program cannot directly displace current workers or cut their pay or hours.
The program may receive public or private grants and donations. Spending generally needs legislative approval, with an exception for collected funds through the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027.
Argument forPaid placements and career training could help young people build job skills and explore work in growing fields close to home.
Argument againstEmployer matching rules and limits on available spending could make it harder for some businesses to offer paid placements, though small employers may qualify for reduced requirements.
More detail
The Department of Commerce runs a statewide summer jobs and career learning program. The program serves West Virginia youth who are at least 14 and no older than 20 when they participate. The department must provide equal access to eligible youth. The department must direct grants across all regions and prioritize work tied to state and regional job needs. The law took effect June 12, 2026.
Employer partners receive state grants and use them for costs tied to youth they hire. Employer partners include private businesses, nonprofits, and state or local public agencies that provide paid placements. Partners must pay participants at least the applicable minimum wage and may use funds only for wages, related costs, and reasonable administrative expenses. The department sets minimum matching rules and may allow lower matches for small employers or nonprofits. Participation must not directly displace existing workers or reduce their wages or hours.
The department may receive grants, donations, and legislative appropriations for the program, and must report on its results and spending. The department reports to the Governor and the Joint Committee on Government and Finance. Spending generally requires legislative appropriations and state spending procedures. For fiscal years ending June 30, 2026, and June 30, 2027, spending may come from collected funds without a legislative appropriation. The department must submit its first report by December 1, 2026, and submit another each year.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jun 29Chapter 142, Acts, Regular Session, 2026Latest
- Apr 2Became law 4/2/2026
- Mar 25To Governor 3/25/26To Governor
- Mar 14Became law without Governor's signature- House Journal
- Vote recorded PASSAGE-SENATE AMENDED HB. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 14Became law without Governor's signature - Senate JournalBecame Law
- Mar 14To Governor 3/25/2026 - Senate JournalMinor
- Mar 14House Message received
- Mar 14Completed legislative action
- Mar 14Communicated to Senate
- Mar 14House concurred in Senate amendment and passed bill (Roll No. 661)
- Mar 14House received Senate message
- Mar 12Senate requests House to concur
- Vote recorded Passage. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 12Passed Senate with amended title (Roll No. 511)Passed Senate
- Mar 12Read 3rd timeMinor
- Mar 12On 3rd reading
- Mar 11Committee amendment adopted (Voice vote)
- Mar 11Read 2nd timeMinor
- Mar 11On 2nd reading
- Mar 10Read 1st timeMinor
- Mar 10Immediate consideration
- Mar 10Reported do pass, with amendment and title amendmentMinor
- Mar 5To Workforce
- Mar 5To Workforce
- Mar 5Introduced in SenateMinor
- Mar 4Communicated to Senate
- Vote recorded PASSAGE. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 4Passed House (Roll No. 322)Passed House
- Mar 4Read 3rd timeMinor
- Mar 4On 3rd reading, Special Calendar
- Mar 3Amendment adopted (Voice vote)
- Mar 3Amendment reported by the Clerk
- Mar 3Read 2nd timeMinor
- Mar 3On 2nd reading, Special Calendar
- Mar 2Read 1st timeMinor
- Mar 2On 1st reading, Special Calendar
- Feb 27By substitute, do pass
- Feb 12To House FinanceMinor
- Feb 12Introduced in HouseMinor
- Feb 12To FinanceMinor
- Feb 12Filed for introductionIntroduced
EducationEconomy & Jobs