This bill aims to amend the Code of West Virginia by introducing new sections that mandate political subdivisions and the Department of Health to collect and report data related to costs incurred for undocumented immigrants. Specifically, it requires each political subdivision to declare quarterly expenditures on housing, sheltering, feeding, transporting, and educating noncitizen immigrants who lack proper documentation. Additionally, county commissions and city councils must report their spending on undocumented individuals receiving local resources, detailing the dates, amounts, purposes, and frequency of such expenditures. Noncompliance with these reporting requirements could result in violations of state laws against sanctuary cities.

Furthermore, the bill establishes a new requirement for hospitals that accept Medicaid to inquire about patients' immigration status during admission or registration. Hospitals must include a provision on their forms for patients to indicate their citizenship status, ensuring that this inquiry does not affect patient care or lead to reporting to immigration authorities. Hospitals are also required to submit quarterly reports to the Department of Health regarding the number of admissions and emergency visits by patients based on their immigration status. The Department will compile annual reports for state leaders, detailing hospital admissions, costs of uncompensated care for undocumented individuals, and the overall impact on hospital services. The Department is authorized to create rules regarding the reporting format while ensuring patient confidentiality.

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