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Introduced Version House Bill 2314 History

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Key: Green = existing Code. Red = new code to be enacted
H. B. 2314


          (By Delegates Poore, Guthrie, Wells, Lawrence,
Miley and Skaff)

          [Introduced February 13, 2013; referred 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 §49-6-9a, relating to
authorizing a family court judge to order a child to be taken into custody in emergency situations which occur in the presence of the judge; and providing procedures when a child is ordered taken into emergency custody.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
     That the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended by adding thereto a new section, designated
§49-6-9a , to read as follows:
ARTICLE 6. PROCEDURE IN CASES OF CHILD NEGLECT OR ABUSE.
§49-6-9a. Family court order authorizing custody of a child in emergency situations.
_____(a) (1) Where any child in a family court proceeding is under circumstances constituting imminent danger in the presence of a family court judge and the family court judge finds the child to be neglected or abused, as defined in section three, article one of this chapter, the judge may order the child to be taken into the emergency custody of the department without a court order otherwise required by section three of this article, if the judge finds that:
_____(A) There exists an imminent danger to the physical well-being of the child as defined in subsection (g), section three, article one of this chapter; and
_____(B) There are no reasonable available alternatives to the emergency custody order.
_____(2) Upon notification by the family court judge that there exists an imminent danger to the physical well-being of the child, the department shall immediately respond and assist the judge in emergency placement of the child.
_____(b) A child taken into emergency protective custody under the provisions of this section may be housed by the department in an authorized child shelter facility if no other reasonable alternative is available to the court. The authority to hold the child in protective custody as provided by this section absent a petition and proper order granting temporary custody pursuant to section three of this article, terminates by operation of law upon expiration of ninety-six hours from the time the child is initially taken into protective custody.
_____(c) Within two judicial days of the emergency custody order issued pursuant to this section, the family court judge shall file a written order specifying all of the facts upon which the decision to order the child into protective custody was based and the date, time and place of the taking of the child. A copy of the written order shall be transmitted forthwith to the department, the circuit court and prosecuting attorney. Upon receipt of the written order, the circuit court shall forthwith cause to be entered and served an administrative order in the name of and regarding the affected child directing the department to submit to the family and circuit court an investigative report including whether the department intends to file a petition under section three of this article or intends to appear before the circuit court in not more than ninety-six hours from the taking of the child at a scheduled hearing to show cause why the department's investigation report has not been submitted to the circuit court and family court. The scheduled hearing may become moot by the department's earlier submission of the investigative report or, in the alternative, the filing of an abuse and neglect petition under section three of this article. The family court shall retain full jurisdiction of the child custody or protective order proceedings, or both, until an abuse or neglect petition is filed.
_____(d) Any worker for the department assuming custody of a child pursuant to the provisions of this section shall immediately notify the parents, parent, guardian or custodian of the child of the taking of the custody and the reasons therefor if the whereabouts of the parents, parent, guardian or custodian are known or can be discovered with due diligence and, if not, a notice and explanation shall be given to the child's closest relative if his or her whereabouts are known or can be discovered with due diligence within a reasonable time. An inquiry shall be made of relatives and neighbors and, if an appropriate relative or neighbor is willing to assume custody of the child, the child shall temporarily be placed in that person's custody.
_____(e) No child may be taken into custody under circumstances not justified by
this section or pursuant to section three of this article without appropriate process. Any retention of a child or order for retention of a child not complying with the time limits and other requirements specified in this article are void by operation of law.



     NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to
allow a family court judge to order a child to be taken into custody in emergency situations which occur in the presence of the judge.


     This section is new;
therefore, it has been completely underscored.
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