WEST virginia Legislature

2022 regular session

Introduced

House Bill 4031

By Delegates Conley, Kimble, G. Ward, Horst, Mazzocchi, Phillips, Pritt, Longanacre, Kimes, J. Jeffries, and McGeehan

[Introduced January 12, 2022; Referred to the Committee on Health and Human Resources then the Judiciary]

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §16-1-22; and to amend said code by adding thereto a new section, designated §16-2-18, all relating to prohibiting mask mandates by the State of West Virginia; and prohibiting local health departments in West Virginia from instituting any type of mandatory mask mandate or face covering requirement.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 1.  state public health system.

§16-1-22. Face covering and mask mandates prohibited.

The State of West Virginia shall not implement any sort of mandatory face covering or mask requirement, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic or otherwise. The requirements of §61-6-22 of this Code relating to the wearing of masks, hoods or face coverings shall still apply.

ARTICLE 2.  local boards of health.

§16-2-18. Prohibition on face coverings and mask mandates.

Local boards of health in West Virginia shall not implement any mandatory face covering or mask requirement, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic or otherwise. The requirements of  §61-6-22 of this Code relating to the wearing of masks, hoods or face coverings shall still apply.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to prohibit a mask or face covering requirement by the State of West Virginia or by local boards of health in West Virginia in response to the COVID-19 pandemic or otherwise.

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