WEST virginia legislature

2020 regular session

Introduced

Senate Bill 157

By Senator Sypolt

[Introduced January 9, 2020; referred
to the Committee on the Judiciary; and then to the Committee on Finance]

A BILL to amend and reenact §48-27-207 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to requiring a licensed program for victims of domestic violence to provide specific services to aid victims of domestic violence and their children; and requiring that the Family Protection Services Board propose rules to implement program.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 27. PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

§48-27-207. Program for victims of domestic violence defined.

(a) “Program for victims of domestic violence” means a licensed program for victims of domestic violence and their children, which program provides advocacy, shelter, crisis intervention, social services, treatment, counseling, education or training.

(b) The Family Protection Services Board shall propose rules for legislative approval in accordance with §29A-3-1 et seq. of this code to implement this section.  The rules shall include that all licensed programs for victims of domestic violence and their children, in addition to the services described in subsection (a) of this section, shall provide specific advocacy services which help navigate the court system and appropriate laws, and provide other resources, including transportation, access to telephone services, and necessities of life.

 

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to require a licensed program for victims of domestic violence to provide specific services to aid victims of domestic violence and their children. The bill also requires that the Family Protection Services Board propose rules to implement this.

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