Providing greater access to unused buildings for public charter schools

SB 53 Text

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Introduced Version

Senate Bill 53 History

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Key:
Green
= existing Code.
Red
= new code to be enacted

WEST virginia legislature
2026 regular session
Introduced
Senate Bill 53
By Senator Rucker
[Introduced January 14, 2026; referred
to the Select Committee on School Choice]

A BILL to amend and reenact §18-5G-12 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to providing greater access to unused buildings for public charter schools; requiring the county board or public entity to allow the charter school sufficient time to establish the school; providing that the facility is not required to hold the building if the charter school application is denied; and allowing the authorizer of the charter school to release the building in the event the school is unable to open.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 5G. PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLs.

§18-5G-12. Access to public facilities.

(a) A public charter school may request usage of public facilities from the county board or other public entity in the county where the charter school is located or proposes to locate. A county board or other public entity shall make facilities available to the charter school that are either not used, in whole or in part, for classroom instruction at the time the charter school seeks to use or lease the public facility.
Each county school system shall publish on a publicly available website an annual list of buildings that are closed, unused, unoccupied, or space available in occupied buildings. Once a public charter school requests usage of a public facility the county board or other public entity may not sell the facility or make unavailable for the purpose of preventing the public charter school from using the building.
(b) Upon approval of usage for the charter school, the county board or other public entity must allow the charter school a sufficient amount of time to obtain approval of the charter school application, as well as any renovations that are required to properly maintain the safety and compliance with state law for students. The period of time shall not exceed two years.
(c) If the application is denied for the charter school that requests usage of the public facility the county board or other public entity shall not be required to hold the building in the event the charter school seeks to submit another application.
(d) If the charter school determines that operation of the school is impossible, the authorizer of the charter school shall release the building back to the county board or public entity.
(b)
(e)
If a charter school seeks to lease the whole or part of a public facility, the cost of the lease must be at or under current market value.
(c)
(f)
During the term of the lease, the charter school is solely responsible for the direct expenses related to the public facility lease, including utilities, insurance, maintenance, repairs, and remodeling. The county school board is responsible for any debt incurred or liens that are attached to the school building before the charter school leases the public facility.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to require county school boards to publish an annual list of buildings that are closed, unused, or unoccupied for purposes of providing greater access to Charter Schools. Once a public charter school requests usage of a public facility the county board or other public entity may not sell the facility or make unavailable to prevent public charter schools from utilizing the building.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.

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