WEST virginia legislature
2021 regular session
Introduced
House Bill 3040
By Delegates Nestor, D. Kelly, Keaton, Pritt, Pushkin, Zatezalo, Reynolds, Hott, Jennings, Storch and Anderson
[Introduced March 10, 2021; Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary]
A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §9-5-28, relating to ensuring the health, safety, and welfare of homeless citizens of this State, and to assist their entry into the workforce by ensuring compliance with §17B-2-16 of this code.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
ARTICLE 5. miscellaneous provisions.
§9-5-28. Admission to publicly funded homeless shelters.
(a) Legislative findings. ̶ The West Virginia Legislature finds that oftentimes, homeless persons in West Virginia are without identification. The Legislature finds that no homeless person should be denied residency into a public homeless shelter or homeless facility based solely on lack of government issued identification.
(b) Failure to present government-issued identification not grounds for denial of admission into publicly funded homeless shelter. –
(1) No publicly funded homeless shelter in this state – that is, a shelter or facility that receives federal funding, state funding, or grant monies – may deny a homeless person shelter at their facility solely on the basis that the person is without a government issued identification card.
(2) For the purpose of this section, publicly funded homeless shelters shall have the definition set forth in subsection (b)(1).
(c) Effective date. – The provisions of this section shall become effective upon passage.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of homeless citizens of this State, and to assist their entry into the workforce by ensuring compliance with W.Va. Code §17B-2-16.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.