WV HB5480

Establishes the West Virginia Youth Summer Employment and Career Readiness Program within the Department of Commerce's Division of Workforce Development to provide paid summer employment, work-based learning, and career exploration for youth ages 14-20

Designates "priority youth populations" for targeted outreach, including youth in foster care, those receiving TANF or SNAP benefits, and justice-involved youth under juvenile probation or diversion

Requires employer partners (private businesses, nonprofits, or government agencies) to provide matching contributions toward participant wages, supervision, or training costs to receive program grants

Mandates program focus on high-demand industries, apprenticeships, internships, entrepreneurship exposure, and career pathways aligned with regional economic development strategies

Creates the West Virginia Youth Summer Employment and Career Readiness Account as a special revenue fund to receive legislative appropriations, federal grants, and private donations