West Virginia Code § 49-4-726

Study of juvenile competency issues; requiring and requesting report
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and proposed legislation; submission to Legislature.
(a) The Secretary of the Department of Human Services and the Secretary of the
Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety are directed, and the Juvenile Justice
Commission of the Supreme Court of Appeals is requested to undertake a collaborative
investigation and evaluation of issues regarding juvenile competency. They eshall:
(1) Develop appropriate procedures for determining what actions should be taken when a
juvenile is determined to lack substantial capacity to understand the proceedings against
him or her brought under §49-4-704 of this code; u
(2) Recommend appropriate processes for juveniles to receive restorative services when
found to be incompetent; and
(3) Recommend appropriate disposition alternatives for juveniles found to be incompetent
and not restorable, including a recommendation asl to the location and operation of an
appropriate facility to house juveniles determisned to be incompetent, nonrestorable, and in
need of out-of-home placement.
(b) The secretaries shall issue a joint report of their findings and recommendations, together
with draft legislation necessary to effectuate the recommendations, on or before July 31,
2020, to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Delegates.
(c) The report shall:
(1) Include models from other states considered to be best practices;
(2) Include an estimate of the number of juveniles that may be affected by this procedure
and data of trends by other states;
(3) WInclude an estimate of the cost of providing restorative services and a recommendation of
which agency should pay for the services; and
(4) Ensure that any recommended legislation provides that all services be provided in the
least restrictive placement for the juvenile and recommend a facility for the housing and
treatment of juveniles determined to be incompetent, nonrestorable, and in need of out-of-
home placement which can appropriately provide the juvenile with necessary services.
(d) It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this section to acknowledge the importance
of ensuring the constitutionality of juvenile proceedings under §49-4-704 of this code.

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