Bill Text: WV SB537 | 2025 | Regular Session | Introduced


Bill Title: Establishing WV Mothers and Babies Pregnancy Support Program

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 4-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2025-02-19 - To Health and Human Resources [SB537 Detail]

Download: West_Virginia-2025-SB537-Introduced.html

WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE

2025 REGULAR SESSION

Introduced

Senate Bill 537

By Senators Helton and Fuller

[Introduced February 19, 2025; referred
to the Committee on Health and Human Resources]

A BILL to amend and reenact §16-66-2 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to pregnancy help organizations; and providing approved pregnancy help organizations flexibility to receive funding for various costs.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

 

ARTICLE 66. SUPPORT FOR MOTHERS AND BABIES ACT.

§16-66-2. Establishing the West Virginia Mothers and Babies Pregnancy Support Program.

(a) There is hereby established the West Virginia Mothers and Babies Pregnancy Support Program under the Bureau for Public Health.  

(b) A pregnancy help organization is eligible to receive funding from the program, subject to meeting the standards defined by the managing agency.

(c) An abortion industry organization may not receive funding from the program.

(d) Funds distributed under the program shall be distributed on a fee per service arrangement with a fee per service and hour arrangement as set by the management agency.

(e) Notwithstanding any provisions of the code to the contrary, funds may also be distributed to pregnancy help organizations, approved pursuant to this section, for the following reasons: Capital expenditures, expenditures associated with adding additional services, expenditures associated with meeting the requirements established by relevant licensing, accreditation, or standards setting organizations, and training expenditures for pregnancy help organization staff and volunteers.

 

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to provide approved pregnancy help organizations flexibility to receive funding for various costs.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.

feedback