This bill proposes amendments to the Code of West Virginia by introducing two new sections aimed at collecting and reporting data related to the costs incurred by political subdivisions and the Department of Health for treating undocumented immigrants. Under the new provisions, each political subdivision must quarterly declare expenditures on housing, sheltering, feeding, transporting, and educating undocumented immigrants. Additionally, county commissions and city councils are required to report their spending on these individuals, detailing the dates, amounts, purposes, and frequency of the expenditures. Noncompliance with these reporting requirements could result in a violation of the state's laws against sanctuary cities.

Furthermore, the bill mandates that hospitals accepting Medicaid include a question on patient admission forms regarding the immigration status of patients. Hospitals must submit quarterly reports to the Department of Health detailing the number of admissions or emergency visits by patients based on their immigration status. The Department is also tasked with compiling an annual report for state leaders that includes data on hospital admissions, costs of uncompensated care for undocumented immigrants, and the overall impact on hospital services. The Department may establish rules for the reporting format while ensuring that no personal identifying information is disclosed.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 15-17-10, 16-67-1