Bill > HB4603

Introduced Session

A BILL to amend and reenact §29-21-2 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to expanding the definition of “eligible proceeding” to include pre-adjudicatory alternative diversion proceedings; appointment of a guardian for a minor in a circuit court pursuant to a pre-adjudicatory alternative diversion; to amend and reenact §44-10-3 of said code relating to the creation of a process to appoint a guardian in child abuse and neglect cases where a pre-adjudicatory alternative diversion has been granted; clarifying that two years after an order appointing a guardian has been entered in a guardianship proceeding that was filed pursuant to §49-4-607a a petition for adoption may be filed in the circuit court exercising jurisdiction over the original abuse and neglect proceeding providing certain requirements are satisfied; to amend and reenact §44-10-5 of said code exempting legal guardianships instituted pursuant to the granting of a pre-adjudicatory alternative diversion from bonding requirements; to amend and reenact §49-4-601b of said code relating to the expungement process where child abuse and neglect substantiations have occurred by the department in cases where a pre-adjudicatory alternative diversion has been granted; to amend and reenact §49-4-607a of said code relating to the creation of the process of obtaining and adjudicating a pre-adjudicatory alternative diversion.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Adam Burkhammer (R)*,  Geno Chiarelli (R),  Bill Flanigan (R),  Joe Funkhouser (R),  Scot Heckert (R),  Laura Kimble (R),  Margitta Mazzocchi (R),  George Miller (R),  Jonathan Pinson (R), 

To Judiciary (on 02/25/2026)

Official Document