West Virginia legislation · 2026 Regular Session
West Virginia SB741: Expanding pilot program to implement involuntary commitment process
Status: Signed into law, April 1, 2026
What the bill says
An act to amend and reenact §27-5-1b of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to expanding a pilot program to implement an involuntary commitment process. ARTICLE 5. INVOLUNTARY HOSPITALIZATION. §27-5-1b. Pilot projects and other initiatives. (a) Duties of the Department of Human Services. -- The secretary shall, in collaboration with designees of the Supreme Court of Appeals, the Sheriff's Association, the Prosecuting Attorney's Association, the Public Defender Services, the Behavioral Health Providers Association, Disability Rights of West Virginia, and a designee of the Dang.
From the enrolled text, March 12, 2026:
AN ACT to amend and reenact §27-5-1b of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to expanding a pilot program to implement an involuntary commitment process. ARTICLE 5. INVOLUNTARY HOSPITALIZATION. §27-5-1b. Pilot projects and other initiatives. (a) Duties of the Department of Human Services. -- The secretary shall, in collaboration with designees of the Supreme Court of Appeals, the Sheriff's Association, the Prosecuting Attorney's Association, the Public Defender Services, the Behavioral Health Providers Association, Disability Rights of West Virginia, and a designee of the Dangerousness Assessment Advisory Board, undertake an evaluation of the utilization of alternative transportation providers and the development of standards that define the role, scope, regulation, and training necessary for the safe and effective utilization of alternative transportation providers and shall further identify potential financial sources for the payment of alternative transportation providers. Recommendations regarding such evaluation shall be submitted to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Delegates on or before July 31, 2022. The Legislature requests the Supreme Court of Appeals cooperate with the listed parties and undertake this evaluation. (b) Civil involuntary commitment audits. -- The secretary shall establish a process to conduct retrospective quarterly audits of applications and licensed examiner forms prepared by certifiers for the involuntary civil commitment of persons as provided in §27-5-1 et …