Bill > HB4059

This bill, titled the "Saving Citizens' Resources Act," mandates that political subdivisions (like counties and cities) and hospitals in West Virginia must collect and report data on the costs associated with providing services to undocumented immigrants. Specifically, political subdivisions must quarterly declare money spent on housing, sheltering, feeding, transporting, and educating non-U.S. citizens who lack a Permanent Resident Card, work visa, or student visa, or are otherwise undocumented. County commissions and city councils must detail expenditures on such individuals, including dates, amounts, purposes, and frequency of aid. Failure to comply can result in a violation of state laws against "sanctuary cities," which are jurisdictions that do not enforce federal immigration laws. Additionally, hospitals that accept Medicaid must add a question to patient admission forms asking about their U.S. citizenship or lawful presence, with assurances that the answer won't affect care or be reported to immigration authorities. Hospitals will then submit quarterly reports to the Department of Health detailing the number of patients by immigration status, and the Department will annually report to state leadership on these numbers, the costs of uncompensated care for undocumented aliens, and the impact on hospitals. The Department of Health can establish rules for these reports but cannot require hospitals to disclose patient names or personal identifying information.

Health and Social Services

http://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/Bills_history.cfm?input=4059&year=2026&sessiontype=RS&btype=bill