H. B. 4221
(By Delegates Cann, Kominar, Coleman,
Michael, Martin, Pino and Border)
[Introduced February 2, 1998; referred to the
Committee on Government Organization then Finance.]
A BILL to amend article one, chapter twenty-five of the code of
West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as
amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated section
eight, relating to authorizing the commissioner of the
division of corrections to assess inmates in state penal and
correctional facilities reasonable charges for health care
and treatment services provided to them by the state.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That article one, chapter twenty-five of the code of West
Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, be
amended by adding thereto a new section, designated section
eight, to read as follows:
ARTICLE 1. ORGANIZATION AND INSTITUTIONS.
§25-1-8. Charges assessed against inmates for services provided
by state.
(a) The commissioner is authorized to assess inmates serving
a sentence in any state penal or correctional facility reasonable
charges for health care and treatment services provided to them
by the state. The inmate shall be notified of the amount of the
assessment.
(b) The charges assessed against an inmate may be deducted
directly from the inmate's trustee account without the inmate's
consent. The inmate shall be notified of the amount deducted and
the charges to which it has been applied.
(c) Each inmate shall be provided, quarterly, with a
statement detailing all deposits into, withdrawals from and
balance remaining in the inmate's fund account during the
preceding three months.
(d) The commissioner shall promulgate rules implementing
this section prior to making any assessment under this section.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to allow the Commissioner
of the Division of Corrections to assess inmates in state penal
and correctional facilities reasonable charges for health care
and treatment services provided to them by the state.
This section is new; therefore, strike-throughs and
underscoring have been omitted.