CHAPTER 49. CHILD WELFARE.
ARTICLE 11. CAREGIVERS CONSENT ACT.
§49-11-1. Short title.
This article may be cited as the Caregivers Consent Act.

§49-11-2. Definitions.
As used in this article:

(1) "Caregiver" means any person who is at least eighteen years of age and:

(A) Is related by blood, marriage or adoption to the minor, but who is not the legal custodian or guardian of the minor; or

(B) Has resided with the minor continuously during the immediately preceding period of six months or more.

(2) "Health care and treatment" means:

(A) Developmental screening;

(B) Mental health screening;

(C) Mental health treatment;

(D) Ordinary and necessary medical and dental examination and treatment;

(E) Preventive care including ordinary immunizations, tuberculin testing and well-child care; and

(F) Non-emergency diagnosis and treatment: Provided, That non-emergency diagnosis and treatment does not include an abortion.

§49-11-3. Caregiver consent for minor's health care.
(a) Except for minor children placed under the custody of the Department of Health and Human Resources pursuant to proceedings established by this chapter, a caregiver who possesses and presents a notarized affidavit pursuant to section five of this article may consent on behalf of a minor to health care and treatment.

(b) Examination and treatment shall be prescribed by or under the supervision of a physician, advanced practice nurse, dentist or mental health professional licensed to practice in the state.

§49-11-4. Duty of health care facility or practitioner.
The decision of a caregiver who possesses and presents a notarized affidavit of caregiver consent for a minor's health care pursuant to section five of this article shall be honored by a health care facility or practitioner unless the health care facility or practitioner has actual knowledge that a parent, legal custodian or guardian of a minor has made a contravening decision to consent to or to refuse medical treatment for the minor.

§49-11-5. Affidavit of caregiver consent.

An affidavit of caregiver consent for a minor's health care shall include the following:

(1) The caregiver's name and current home address;

(2) The caregiver's birth date;

(3) The relationship of the caregiver to the minor;

(4) The minor's name;

(5) The minor's birth date;

(6) The length of time the minor has resided with the caregiver;

(7) The caregiver's signature under oath affirming the truth of the matter asserted in the affidavit;

(8) The signature of the minor's parent, guardian or legal custodian consenting to the caregiver's authority over the minor's health care: Provided, That the signature of the minor's parent, guardian or legal custodian is not necessary if the affidavit includes the following: (A) A statement that the caregiver has attempted, but has been unable to obtain, the signature of the minor's parent, guardian or legal custodian; (B) a statement that the minor's parent, guardian or legal custodian has not refused to give consent for health care and treatment of the minor child; and (C) a description, in detail, of the attempts the caregiver made to obtain the signature of the minor's parent, guardian or legal custodian; and

(9) A statement, as follows:

"General Notices:

This declaration does not affect the rights of the minor's parent, guardian or legal custodian regarding the care, custody and control of the minor, other than with respect to health care, and does not give the caregiver legal custody of the minor.

This affidavit is valid for one year unless the minor no longer resides in the caregiver's home. Furthermore, the minor's parent, guardian or legal custodian may at any time rescind this affidavit of caregiver consent for a minor's health care by providing written notification of the rescission to the appropriate health care professional.

A person who relies in good faith on this affidavit of caregiver consent for a minor's health care has no obligation to conduct any further inquiry or investigation and shall not be subject to civil or criminal liability or to professional disciplinary action because of that reliance."

§49-11-6. Revocation and termination of consent.
(a) The affidavit of caregiver consent for a minor's health care is superseded by written notification from the minor's parent, guardian or legal custodian to the health care professionals providing services to the minor that the affidavit has been rescinded.

(b) The affidavit of caregiver consent for a minor's health care is valid for one year unless the minor no longer resides in the caregiver's home or a parent, guardian or legal custodian revokes his or her approval by written notification to the health care professionals providing services to the minor that the affidavit has been rescinded. If a parent, guardian or legal custodian revokes approval, the caregiver shall notify any health care provider or health service plans with which the minor has been involved through the caregiver.

§49-11-7. Good faith reliance on affidavit.
(a) Any person who relies in good faith on the affidavit of caregiver consent for a minor's health care:

(1) Has no obligation to conduct any further inquiry or investigation; and

(2) Is not subject to civil or criminal liability or to professional disciplinary action because of the reliance.

(b) The provisions of subsection (a) of this section apply even if medical treatment is provided to a minor in contravention of a decision of a parent, legal custodian or guardian of the minor who signed the affidavit if the person providing care has no actual knowledge of the decision of the parent, legal custodian or guardian.

§49-11-8. Exceptions to applicability.
The consent authorized by this section shall not be applicable for purposes of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. §1400 et seq., or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. §791.

§49-11-9. Penalty for false statement.
A person who knowingly makes a false statement in an affidavit under this article is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than $1,000.

§49-11-10. Rule-making authority.
The Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Resources is authorized to propose rules necessary to implement the provisions of this article for legislative approval in accordance with the provisions of article three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code.

Note: WV Code updated with legislation passed through the 2012 1st Special Session