Child Welfare
West Virginia 2015 Regular Session
Modifying the requirements that allow a child witness to testify by closed circuit television [HB-2828]
[Children and Youth ]
[Crime ]
[Criminal Justice ]
[Public Safety ]
The purpose of this bill is to clarify the procedure for a child witness to provide testimony in a criminal action where the child is a victim and when his or her testimony cannot be reliably obtained in the presence of the defendant.
Sponsored by: Rep. Daryl E. Cowles
On 2nd Reading To Judiciary on 03/06/2015
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Relating to living arrangements for children in foster care and living arrangements for children sixteen years or older [HB-2748]
[Children and Youth ]
[Family-Related Legislation ]
[Human Services ]
The purpose of this bill is to provide living arrangements for children sixteen years or older in foster care. The bill provides matters the court must consider when making a decision regarding planned permanent living arrangements and it sets forth necessary order provisions when the court is considering planned permanent living arrangements.
Sponsored by: Rep. Joe C. Ellington
Filed For Introduction on 02/13/2015
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West Virginia 2015 Regular Session
Recalculating child support obligations [HB-2742]
[Family-Related Legislation ]
[Children and Youth ]
The purpose of the bill is to update the child support guidelines table based on current economic data. Section 48-13-301 has been completely rewritten therefore, it has been completely underscored.
Sponsored by: Rep. Joe C. Ellington
Filed For Introduction on 02/13/2015
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West Virginia 2015 Regular Session
Making it illegal to transport a minor across state lines to obtain an abortion without written consent of both parents [HB-2715]
[Reproductive Rights / Abortion ]
[Crime ]
[Family-Related Legislation ]
[Children and Youth ]
[Public Safety ]
[Law Enforcement ]
The purpose of this bill is to make it a misdemeanor to transport a minor across state lines to obtain an abortion without written consent by both parents or her legal guardians. This section is new; therefore, it has been completely underscored.
Sponsored by: Rep. Jim Butler
Filed For Introduction on 02/12/2015
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West Virginia 2015 Regular Session
Providing medical and religious exemptions from mandatory immunizations for school children [HB-2556]
[Healthcare ]
[Public Health ]
[Education ]
[Children and Youth ]
[Religion ]
The purpose of this bill is to provide medical and religious exemptions from mandatory immunizations for school children. The bill would require parents and guardians to assert their religious beliefs in an affidavit. Parents or guardians seeking an exemption for a child would be required to present an affidavit to be provided to the Department of Health and Human Resources, before the exemption could apply. Further, the bill would remove students who are not immunized from school in times of emergency or epidemics. The bill provides that the Secretary
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Sponsored by: Rep. Daryl E. Cowles
Filed For Introduction on 02/02/2015
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West Virginia 2015 Regular Session
Increasing the number of unexcused absences of a student before action may be taken against the parent [HB-2550]
[Education ]
[Children and Youth ]
The purpose of this bill is to increase the number of unexcused absences from five to ten of a student before action may be taken against the parent, guardian or custodian of the student.
Sponsored by: Rep. Larry L. Rowe
Chapter 98, Acts, Regular Session, 2015 on 04/15/2015
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West Virginia 2015 Regular Session
Creating a Task Force on Prevention of Sexual Abuse of Children; "Erin Merryn's Law" [HB-2527]
[Children and Youth ]
[Crime ]
[Education ]
[Human Services ]
[Public Safety ]
The purpose of this bill is to create a Task Force on the Prevention of Sexual Abuse of Children within the Center for Professional Development. It is named after child sexual abuse survivor, Erin Merryn. The task force is to develop recommendations and proposals for statutory changes, state education policy, and methods to foster cooperation among state agencies, local government, schools and community efforts to prevent child sexual abuse in West Virginia. This section is new; therefore, it has been completely underscored.
Sponsored by: Rep. Justin J. Marcum
Chapter 45, Acts, Regular Session, 2015 on 04/15/2015
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West Virginia 2015 Regular Session
Possessing deadly weapons on school buses or on the premises of educational facilities [HB-2502]
[Crime ]
[Education ]
[Firearms/Gun Control ]
[Public Safety ]
The purpose of this bill is to authorize active law-enforcement officers and retired law-enforcement officers acting as security for schools to carry deadly weapons on a school bus, on school property or at school sponsored functions when certain conditions are met.
Sponsored by: Rep. George Ambler
Chapter 78, Acts, Regular Session, 2015 on 04/15/2015
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West Virginia 2015 Regular Session
Prohibiting sexual offenders from residing within one thousand feet of a school or childcare facility [HB-2501]
[Crime ]
[Children and Youth ]
[Public Safety ]
[Criminal Justice ]
[Law Enforcement ]
The purpose of this bill is to prohibit sexual offenders from residing within one thousand feet of a school or childcare facility. The bill requires persons, as a condition of probation, parole or supervised release, convicted of sexual crimes against a minor be subject to global positional system monitoring for life. The bill also provides for a felony penalty.
Sponsored by: Sen. Karen Lynne Arvon
Filed For Introduction on 01/29/2015
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West Virginia 2015 Regular Session
Relating to the effect of adoption on grandparent visitation rights [HB-2460]
[Family-Related Legislation ]
[Children and Youth ]
The purpose of this bill is to keep a grandparent visitation order in place unless it is vacated in the adoption order.
Sponsored by: Rep. Justin J. Marcum
Filed For Introduction on 01/28/2015
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West Virginia 2015 Regular Session
Requiring health care providers to release unemancipated minor's medical records for drug testing to a parent or legal guardian without written consent from minor [HB-2455]
[Healthcare ]
[Public Health ]
[Children and Youth ]
[Mental Health ]
The purpose of this bill is to require health care providers to release unemancipated minor’s medical records for drug testing to a parent or legal guardian without written consent from that minor.
Sponsored by: Rep. Jim Butler
Filed For Introduction on 01/28/2015
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West Virginia 2015 Regular Session
Increasing the number of child protective service workers [HB-2436]
[Children and Youth ]
[Human Services ]
[Labor, Jobs, Employment ]
[Public Safety ]
The purpose of this bill is to increase the number of child protective service workers and to reduce the caseloads of child protective service workers.
Sponsored by: Rep. William G. Hartman
Filed For Introduction on 01/27/2015
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West Virginia 2015 Regular Session
Requiring a convicted sex offender who volunteers for an organization whose volunteers have contact with minors to inform that organization of his or her conviction [HB-2429]
[Crime ]
[Children and Youth ]
[Public Safety ]
[Criminal Justice ]
The purpose of this bill is to require a convicted sex offender who volunteers for an organization whose volunteers have contact with minors to inform that organization of his or her conviction. The bill provides examples of those organizations. The bill requires an organization that accepts the sex offender to be a volunteer to notify the parents or guardians of those minors of his or her conviction. The bill also sets forth penalties. This section is new; therefore, it has been completely underscored.
Sponsored by: Rep. Jeff Eldridge
To Judiciary on 03/05/2015
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West Virginia 2015 Regular Session
Relating to qualifying children of state employees, receiving income of $25,000 per year or less, for the West Virginia Children's Health Insurance Program [HB-2403]
[Healthcare ]
[Children and Youth ]
[Insurance ]
The purpose of this bill is to qualify children of state employees, receiving income of $25,000 per year or less, for the West Virginia Children’s Health Insurance Program. This section is new; therefore, it has been completely underscored.
Sponsored by: Rep. Ralph Rodighiero
Filed For Introduction on 01/27/2015
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West Virginia 2015 Regular Session
Relating to child welfare [HB-2368]
[Healthcare ]
[Public Health ]
[Human Services ]
[Children and Youth ]
The purpose of this bill is to require the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services to make annual reports to the Health and Human Resources Committees of the Senate and House of Delegates concerning child fatalities or near fatalities as documented by the Bureau for Children and Families Child Protective Services.
Sponsored by: Rep. Joe C. Ellington
Communicated To House on 03/13/2015
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West Virginia 2015 Regular Session
Relating generally to the solicitation of minors [HB-2366]
[Crime ]
[Children and Youth ]
[Criminal Justice ]
[Public Safety ]
The purpose of this bill is to amend the provisions of the current code that would allow law- enforcement officers to conduct undercover investigations to identify and prosecute adults who use computers to solicit minors or persons they believe to be minors for sexual activity. In addition, it creates a new felony for the offense of soliciting a minor and then traveling to meet with and engage in any prohibited sexual activity or conduct with a minor. It also incorporates parallel language into the law prohibiting the use of obscene material to
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Sponsored by: Sen. Karen Lynne Arvon
Recommitted To Judiciary On 3rd Reading on 03/14/2015
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West Virginia 2015 Regular Session
Establishing a bill of rights for foster parents [HB-2264]
[Children and Youth ]
[Family-Related Legislation ]
[Human Services ]
The purpose of this bill is to provide a bill of rights for foster parents.
Sponsored by: Rep. Daryl E. Cowles
Filed For Introduction on 01/23/2015
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West Virginia 2015 Regular Session
Providing guidance for prosecuting attorneys in cases involving abused and neglected children [HB-2263]
[Children and Youth ]
[Crime ]
[Criminal Justice ]
[Family-Related Legislation ]
[Human Services ]
[Public Safety ]
The purpose of this bill is to add language to the West Virginia Code to provide guidance for prosecuting attorneys in cases involving abused and neglected children.
Sponsored by: Rep. Daryl E. Cowles
Recommitted To Judiciary On 3rd Reading on 03/14/2015
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West Virginia 2015 Regular Session
"Parents' Bill of Rights" [HB-2258]
[Education ]
[Children and Youth ]
[Family-Related Legislation ]
The purpose of this bill is to codify a Parents’ Bill of Rights. This article is new; therefore, it has been completely underscored.
Sponsored by: Rep. Daryl E. Cowles
With Amendment, Do Pass, But First To Finance on 02/25/2015
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West Virginia 2015 Regular Session
Establishing a bill of rights for children in foster care [HB-2257]
[Children and Youth ]
[Human Services ]
The purpose of this bill is to establish a bill of rights for children in foster care.
Sponsored by: Rep. Daryl E. Cowles
Filed For Introduction on 01/23/2015