Bill to standardize court mental health evaluations passes West Virginia House

Abstract

West Virginia lawmakers have moved to standardize the state's process for deciding whether to place residents in mental health institutions by creating a new role to oversee the process, West Virginia Public Broadcasting reported March 12. The West Virginia House of Delegates last week passed House Bill 2347, which would create mental hygiene regions with commissioners overseen by the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia. These commissioners would be trained attorneys who would oversee mental health evaluations regarding required institutionalization for residents experiencing mental health crises. The bill would also allow mental health evaluations to take place through video conferencing. During floor discussion Del. Brandon Steele, R-Raleigh, said he worries the bill would remove proceedings from local control, and said he voted against a similar bill during last year's legislative session, referring to the 2024 House Bill 5254. “You need somebody on the ground in your county that knows you and knows the lay of the land, and not a regional person appointed by a bureaucrat out of the Supreme Court,” Steele said. Steele stressed that an involuntary institutionalization can have permanent effects on people's gun ownership amendment rights and professional future. But proponents of the bill like lead sponsor Del. Evan Worrell (R-Cabell), say it standardizes the state's mental hygiene process and streamlines what can be a lengthy procedure. Despite Steele's concerns, the bill passed the House by a vote of 69 to 26. The bill now heads to the West Virginia Senate for further consideration.