HB 5093
Permitting certain felons to work in licensed behavioral health facilities
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- Passed House of Delegates
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Bill overview
This bill would allow individuals convicted of nonviolent felonies to be employed at licensed behavioral health facilities in West Virginia. To be eligible, these individuals would need to complete their criminal sentence and meet specific requirements established through proposed rules. The rules would need to be approved by the legislature and would focus on ensuring patient and employee safety. The bill also ensures that existing licensing requirements for professions within the behavioral health sector remain in place.
Key provisions
- Allows individuals with nonviolent felony convictions to apply for employment.
- Requires completion of the individual’s criminal sentence before employment eligibility.
- Establishes that employment is conditional upon rules promulgated by the Department of Health and Human Resources.
- Rules must address eligibility criteria and safety conditions.
- Existing professional licensing requirements remain applicable.
Who is affected
- Individuals convicted of nonviolent felonies
- Licensed behavioral health facilities in West Virginia
- Patients receiving care at behavioral health facilities
- Employees of behavioral health facilities
- The Department of Health and Human Resources
Notable changes
- Creates a new section in the West Virginia Code addressing employment eligibility for felons in behavioral health facilities.
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