Senate Bill No. 342
(By Senators Wagner, Bowman, Scott, Walker, White,
Wiedebusch, and Yoder)
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[Originating in the Committee on Government Organization;
reported February 13, 1995.]
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A BILL to amend and reenact section sixteen-b, article five,
chapter forty-nine of the code of West Virginia, one
thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, relating to
continuation of the juvenile facilities review panel.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That section sixteen-b, article five, chapter forty-nine
of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred
thirty-one, as amended, be amended and reenacted to read as
follows:
ARTICLE 4. JUVENILE PROCEEDINGS.
§49-5-16b. Juvenile facilities review panel; compensation;
expenses.
The supreme court of appeals shall appoint and maintain
a five-member panel, consisting of five persons who are willing to serve in such capacity, to visit, inspect and
interview residents of all juvenile institutions, detention
facilities and places in or out of the state wherein West
Virginia juveniles may be held involuntarily, to make public
reports of such reviews: Provided, That the panel shall not
visit, inspect or interview adult inmates of county jails,
regional jails or facilities under the direction of the
commissioner of corrections used for the incarceration of
adult offenders or detainees: Provided, however, That the
panel shall have no authority to enforce jail and prison
standards for county jails and regional jails as they pertain
to adults confined therein. In visiting and inspecting any
facility pursuant to the provisions of this section, the panel
shall have prompt and direct access to the head of the
facility for any purpose pertaining to the performance of
functions and responsibilities under this section. The
members so appointed shall serve without compensation for
their time, however, each member shall receive the same
expense reimbursement as is paid to members of the Legislature
for their interim duties as recommended by the citizens
legislative compensation commission and authorized by law for
each day or portion thereof engaged in the discharge of official duties.
Copies of the panel's report shall be submitted annually
to the president of the Senate and the speaker of the House of
Delegates.
Pursuant to the provisions of article ten, chapter four
of this code, the juvenile facilities review panel shall
continue to exist until the first day of July, one thousand
nine hundred ninety-six, to allow for the completion of a
preliminary performance review by the joint committee on
government operations.