Relating to the process for involuntary hospitalization

HB 5003 Text

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Introduced Version

House Bill 5003 History

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

WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE
2026
REGULAR SESSION
Introduced
House Bill 5003
By Delegates Heckert, Watt, Roop, Bridges, Stephens, Marple, Browning, and Chiarelli
[Introduced January 30, 2026; referred to the Committee on the Judiciary]
A BILL to amend and reenact §27-5-2a of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to involuntary hospitalization; clarifying who may order involuntary hospitalization; and clarifying when a mental hygiene petition may be filed after involuntary treatment.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 5. INVOLUNTARY HOSPITALIZATION.

§27-5-2a. Process for involuntary hospitalization.

(a) As used in this section:
(1) "Addiction" has the same meaning as the term is defined in §27-1-11 of this code.
(2) "Authorized staff physician" means a physician, authorized pursuant to the provisions of §30-3-1
et seq
. or §30-14-1
et seq
. of this code, who is a bona fide member of the hospital’s medical staff.
(3) "Hospital" means a facility licensed pursuant to the provisions of §16-5b-1
et seq
. of this code, and any acute care facility operated by the state government that primarily provides inpatient diagnostic, treatment, or rehabilitative services to injured, disabled, or sick individuals under the supervision of physicians.
(4) "Psychiatric emergency" means an incident during which an individual loses control and behaves in a manner that poses substantial likelihood of physical harm to himself, herself, or others.
(b)(1)
If a mental hygiene commissioner, magistrate, and circuit judge are unavailable or unable to be immediately contacted, an

An
authorized staff physician may order the involuntary hospitalization of a patient or an individual who is present at, or presented at, a hospital emergency department in need of treatment, if the authorized staff physician believes, following an examination of the individual, that the individual is addicted or is mentally ill and, because of his or her addiction or mental illness, is likely to cause serious harm to himself, herself or to others if allowed to remain at liberty. The authorized staff physician shall sign a statement attesting to his or her decision that the patient presents a harm to himself, herself or others and needs to be held involuntarily for up to 72 hours. The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals is requested to generate a form for the statement to be signed by the authorized staff physician or other person authorized by the hospital and provided to the individual.
(2)
Immediately upon admission, or as soon as practicable thereafter, but

If, in the opinion of the authorized staff physician, the patient requires involuntary treatment longer than 72 hours, then
in no event later than
24

72
hours after an involuntary hospitalization pursuant to this section, the authorized staff physician or designated employee shall file a mental hygiene petition in which the authorized staff physician certifies that the individual for whom the involuntary hospitalization is sought is addicted or is mentally ill and, because of his or her addiction or mental illness, is likely to cause serious harm to himself, herself, or to other individuals if allowed to remain at liberty. The authorized staff physician shall also certify the same in the individual’s health records. Upon receipt of this filing, the mental hygiene commissioner, a magistrate, or circuit judge shall conduct a hearing pursuant to §27-5-2 of this code.
(3) An individual who is involuntarily hospitalized pursuant to this section shall be released from the hospital within 72 hours, unless further detained under the applicable provisions of this article.
(c) During a period of involuntary hospitalization authorized by this section, upon consent of the individual, or in the event of a medical or psychiatric emergency, the individual may receive treatment. The hospital or authorized staff physician shall exercise due diligence in determining the individual’s existing medical needs and provide treatment the individual requires, including previously prescribed medications.
(d) Each hospital or authorized staff physician which provides services under this section shall be paid for the services at the same rate the hospital or authorized staff physician negotiates with the patient’s insurer. If the patient is uninsured, the hospital or authorized staff physician may file a claim for payment with the West Virginia Legislative Claims Commission in accordance with §14-2-1
et seq
. of this code.
(e) Authorized staff physicians and hospitals and their employees carrying out duties or rendering professional opinions as provided in this section shall be free from liability for their actions, if the actions are performed in good faith and within the scope of their professional duties and in a manner consistent with the standard of care.
(f) The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals is requested to provide each hospital with a list of names and contact information of the mental hygiene commissioners, magistrates, and circuit judges to address mental hygiene petitions in the county where the hospital is located. The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals is requested to update this list regularly and the list shall reflect on-call information. If a mental hygiene commissioner, county magistrate, or circuit judge does not respond to the request within 24 hours, a report shall be filed to the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals.
(g) An action taken against an individual pursuant to this section may not be construed to be an adjudication of the individual, nor shall any action taken pursuant to this section be construed to satisfy the requirements of §61-7-7(a)(4) of this code.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to clarify who may order involuntary hospitalizations and when mental hygiene petitions may be filed after involuntary treatment.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.

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