Bill Text: WV SB431 | 2019 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Reporting procedures of abuse and neglect of adults and children
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 4-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-01-25 - To Health and Human Resources [SB431 Detail]
Download: West_Virginia-2019-SB431-Introduced.html
WEST virginia legislature
2019 regular session
Introduced
Senate Bill 431
By Senators Boso, Roberts, Swope, and Cline
[Introduced
January 25, 2019; Referred
to the Committee on Health and Human Resources]
A BILL to amend and reenact §9-6-11 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; and to amend and reenact §49-2-809 of said code, all relating to mandatory reporting procedures of abuse and neglect of adults and children.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
CHAPTER 9. HUMAN SERVICES.
ARTICLE 6. SOCIAL SERVICES FOR ADULTS.
§9-6-11. Reporting procedures.
(a) A report of neglect or abuse of an incapacitated adult
or facility resident or of an emergency situation involving such an adult shall
be made immediately by telephone to the department’s local adult protective
services agency by a method established by the department and shall be
followed by a written report by the complainant or the receiving agency within
48 hours. The department shall, upon receiving any such report, take such
action as may be appropriate and shall maintain a record thereof. The
department shall receive such telephonic reports on its 24-hour,
seven-day-a-week, toll-free number established to receive calls reporting cases
of suspected or known adult abuse or neglect.
(b) A copy of any report of abuse, neglect, or emergency situation shall be immediately filed with the following agencies:
(1) The Department of Health and Human Resources;
(2) The appropriate law-enforcement agency and the prosecuting attorney, if necessary; or
(3) In case of a death, to the appropriate medical examiner or coroner's office.
(c) If the person who is alleged to be abused or neglected is a resident of a nursing home or other residential facility, a copy of the report shall also be filed with the state or regional ombudsman and the administrator of the nursing home or facility.
(d) The department shall omit from such report in the first instance, the name of the person making a report, when requested by such person.
(e) Reports of known or suspected institutional abuse or neglect of an incapacitated adult or facility resident or the existence of an emergency situation in an institution, nursing home, or other residential facility shall be made, received, and investigated in the same manner as other reports provided for in this article. In the case of a report regarding an institution, nursing home, or residential facility, the department shall immediately cause an investigation to be conducted.
(f) Upon receipt of a written complaint, the department shall coordinate an investigation pursuant to §9-6-3 of this code and applicable state or federal laws, rules, or regulations.
CHAPTER 49. CHILD WELFARE.
ARTICLE 2. STATE RESPONSIBILITIES FOR CHILDREN.
§49-2-809. Reporting procedures.
(a) Reports of child abuse and neglect pursuant to this
article shall be made immediately by telephone to the local
department of child protective service agency by a method established
by the department and shall be followed by a written report within 48 hours
if so requested by the receiving agency. The state department shall establish
and maintain a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week telephone number to receive those
calls reporting suspected or known child abuse or neglect.
(b) A copy of any report of serious physical abuse, sexual abuse, or assault shall be forwarded by the department to the appropriate law-enforcement agency, the prosecuting attorney, or the coroner or medical examiner's office. All reports under this article are confidential. Reports of known or suspected institutional child abuse or neglect shall be made and received as all other reports made pursuant to this article.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to direct all reports of abuse and neglect to the central office of DHHR via communications method established by the department.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.
