H. B. 4597
(By Delegates McGeehan and Romine)
[Introduced
February 22, 2010
; referred to the
Committee on Government Organization then the Judiciary.]
A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by
adding thereto a new article, designated §29-29-1, §29-29-
2,
§29-29-3 and §29-29-4, all relating to the Northern Panhandle
Child Advocacy Commission.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended
by adding thereto a new article, designated §29-29-1, §29-29-2,
§29-29-3 and §29-29-4, all to read as follows:
ARTICLE 29. NORTHERN PANHANDLE CHILD ADVOCACY COMMISSION.
§29-29-1. Legislative findings.
The West Virginia Legislature finds that there is a
significant need for a public body to promote and enhance cohesion
amongst organizations with similar objectives and to identify and
remove obstacles to improving children's well-being which have
arisen within certain government agencies, a commission to facilitate those objectives should be formed. This commission will
act within the counties of Tyler, Wetzel, Marshall, Ohio, Brooke,
and Hancock.
The Legislature further finds that the creation and
empowerment of a statutory corporation to work with county
officials and community leaders, state and federal government
agencies, and other interested parties to enable and facilitate the
improvement of child welfare services will greatly assist in the
realization of these potential benefits.
§29-29-2. Powers and duties of commission.
It is the duty of the commission:
(1) To review and study the status of children in the
enumerated counties;
(2) To recommend methods of improving problems dealing with
children in distressed homes, children in danger and distress,
children exposed to criminal activity or dysfunctional
environments, children involved in juvenile criminal activity and
children in foster or intermediate care;
(3) To promote more effective methods for enabling children to
develop their skills, to continue in their education and to be
brought into safe and supportive environments which will enable
them to reach their full potential;
(4) To strengthen home life by directing attention to critical
problems confronting children;
(5) To make surveys in fields including, but not limited to, education, social services, laws and policies, law enforcement,
health and services of benefit to children, especially as related
to assisting them in their legal rights, family relations and
volunteer services;
(6) To disseminate information for the purpose of educating
the public as to the existence and functions of the commission and
as to matters of general beneficial interest to children;
(7) To examine current legislation, rules and other policies,
written and unwritten to find hindrances to the ability to aid
children in distress, and to propose solutions to remove the same;
and
(8) To advise, consult and cooperate with other offices of the
Department of Health and Human Resources and other agencies of
state government, and to receive assistance therefrom, in the
development of activities and programs of beneficial interest to
children, the improvement of collaboration between nonprofit
organizations and state agencies on solutions and on matters
relating generally to children.
§29-29-3. Composition of the Commission
The Commission shall be comprised of:
(1) One representative of law enforcement;
(2) Two members from the group CASA;
(3) One prosecuting attorney from one of the above named
counties;
(4) One representative of the St. Joseph's Children's Home at Wheeling;
(5) One CPS representative;
(6) One representative from a child advocacy center in one of
the above named counties;
(7) One representative educator; and
(8) One representative from Change, Inc.
The commission's members shall be appointed by the Governor,
by and with the consent of the Senate, no more than six of whom
shall belong to the same political party and no more than four of
whom shall be residents of the same county at the same time. The
members shall serve without pay but shall be reimbursed for their
reasonable and necessary expenses actually incurred in the
performance of their duties.
§29-29-4. Annual report.
The commission shall, with the approval of the Secretary of
the Department of Health and Human Resources or his or her
designee, submit an annual report to the Legislature and the
Governor, including recommendations based on its studies.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to create the Northern
Panhandle Child Advocacy Commission.
This article is new; therefore, it has been completely
underscored.
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