Bill > HB5610

This bill, known as the Granting Relatives Access to Monitor Act (GRAM'S Act), allows residents of long-term care facilities, or their designated guardians or attorneys in fact (people legally authorized to act on their behalf), to install electronic monitoring devices, such as cameras or audio recorders, in their rooms to check on their well-being. The bill defines "long-term care facility" broadly to include nursing homes, personal care homes, and similar residences. For the monitoring to be authorized, the resident or their representative must cover the costs of the device and its installation, maintenance, and removal, and if the resident shares a room, the consent of the other resident or their representative is required, with provisions for accommodating differing needs or placing conditions on the monitoring to protect privacy. The bill also outlines the duties of long-term care facilities, including potentially providing a form for consent and allowing a notice to be posted if a monitoring device is in use, and it prohibits discrimination against residents for using these devices. Furthermore, it specifies who can view or listen to recordings from these devices, generally limiting access to the resident, their representative, and law enforcement, unless specific authorization is given. Finally, the bill establishes penalties, including fines for tampering with devices, filing false complaints, or retaliating against residents for using monitoring devices, with violations by facilities also being considered a breach of their operating license.

Health and Social Services

http://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/Bills_history.cfm?input=5610&year=2026&sessiontype=RS&btype=bill