WEST virginia Legislature

2018 regular session

Introduced

Senate Bill 25

By Senator Maynard

[ Introduced January 10, 2018; Referred
to the Committee on Health and Human Resources; and then 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 §61-5-30, relating to making it a crime for doctors and lawyers to knowingly file a fraudulent claim for disability benefits or providing substantive information in support of a fraudulent claim; and establishing the penalties.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 5. CRIMES AGAINST PUBLIC JUSTICE.

§61-5-30. Fraudulent disability claims; penalties.

It is unlawful for a doctor or lawyer to knowingly file a fraudulent claim for disability benefits, or provide substantive information in support of a fraudulent claim, from the state or any of its agencies. Any person who violates this section is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, shall be confined in a state correctional facility for not less than one nor more than ten years and fined not more than $10,000.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to make it a felony for doctors and lawyers to knowingly file a fraudulent claim for disability benefits or providing substantive information in support of a fraudulent claim. The bill establishes the penalties.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.