In the Joint Legislative Oversight Commission on the Department of Transportation Accountability, the DOT’s annual report was discussed. It was submitted on January 4th.

The number of slips has been reduced from 2300 slips to 506 in the last few years. In pothole patching, the Department used 10,000 tons less asphalt than last year. Record pacing is taking place every year. The General Revenue Paving consisted of 336 projects, which used 97 percent of the estimated projections. With the remaining funds, a few more projects will be added to be paved in the spring.

On bridge projects, 26 bridge projects in the Northern Panhandle have been completed. Annual bridge inspections take place unless bridges need to be inspected more frequently. Unsafe bridges are closed when deemed necessary by a bridge engineer. If an inspector would find an issue, they would notify engineers and the bridge would be closed and the public notified.

Questions about the Market Street Bridge connecting WV and OH were brought forward. The bridge had its weight limit reduced several months ago. During a recent inspection, it was closed due to suspension line concerns. It will be inspected again in a couple of months to see how much it deteriorates with no traffic to determine how to proceed. The Jennings Randolph Bridge reopened yesterday. More work will take place on it, but it is believed the work can be done with only outer lane closures.

Another federal bridge program has provided funding for an additional 95 bridges to be repaired.

The Joint Committee on Judiciary met this morning to hear a report on the WV Strategic Plan to divert Justice-Involved Individuals. In 2023, Senate Bill 232 passed requiring the development of a study group for West Virginia using the Sequential Model to move at-risk populations away from the criminal justice system, provide treatment, and promote continuity of care and intervention.

The populations focused on in this model are juveniles, adults with mental illness, individuals with intellectual development disabilities, cognitive impairment and traumatic brain injury, and individuals struggling with substance use disorder. Stakeholders have been meeting via Zoom to discuss the model and needs in the state.

The Sequential Intercept Model details how individuals with mental health issues encounter and move through the criminal justice system. It helps communities identify resources and gaps in services at each intercept and develop local strategic action plans. The goal is to use intercepts to divert individuals with mental illness out of the criminal justice system. There are six intercepts in the model:

• Zero – before any contact with law enforcement
• One – contact with local law enforcement
• Two – court hearings
• Three – Trial, jail
• Four Prison/Jail reentry
• Parole/Probation

Common themes identified by the study group were that the state has numerous programs for different issues and problems but there is a communication issue. There is little to no communication sharing between agencies. Programs need sustainable funding. Programs are inconsistent in implementation across the state.

The group’s recommendations are:

• To create a Council for Coordination of Forensic Mental Health Services: this would be a continuation of the study group in a council with the addition of active legislative member participation and input.
• Changes to the WV State Code
• Expansion of continuum of care services for justice-involved individuals with mental illness: this would include stepdown, transitional living, crisis stabilization, and group homes.
• Increased Communications between agencies: this would require the creation and use of shared databases.

Moving forward the group wants to continue working together, identify funding sources, develop standards and protocols, and create the Sequential Model as planned.

West Virginia Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD), a non-profit organization often activated for flood relief in the state, came under scrutiny for possible misuse of funds during Sunday afternoon’s meeting of the Joint Legislative Committee on Flooding.

Senate Finance Committee chairman Eric Tarr (R-Putnam, 04) called for the Legislature’s Commission on Special Investigations, the criminal investigation arm of the Legislature, as well as the Legislative Auditor and State Auditor’s office to look into several allegations raised against the organization regarding possible financial irregularities.

“I’m not convinced that the funds that went through VOAD, and I’m not sure how much of that would have been state dollars with just the recent appropriations, let alone what’s happened since 2016, were used appropriately,” Tarr said.

Tarr asked VOAD Executive Director Jenny Gannaway several questions under oath regarding actions taken by her and VOAD staff. These actions include the hiring of family members for VOAD by Gannaway and others. Gannaway admitted to hiring her brother, her great niece and great nephew-in-law. Gannaway said the hires did not require approval of VOAD’s board, and that Gannaway and other employees did not directly supervise employed family members.

Gannaway explained that the hires were made during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic when it was hard to find employees willing to work. She noted that she would never make similar hires again but at the time, with so much to do, and being short staffed, she felt that was her only option to get the job done.

Tarr also asked about whether Gannaway took as her own some items that had been donated to VOAD to help with relief efforts.

Gannaway said she made donations in exchange for the materials.

“We had permission to take donations for items we could not give out to flood survivors,” Gannaway said. “I gave large donations for any items I took that I may have given to someone.”

According to Tarr, VOAD received approximately $896,000 through the state Department of Commerce from West Virginia’s nearly $149 million in Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery dollars stemming from the 2016 flooding in southern and central West Virginia.

Tarr also asked about the use of federal Paycheck Protection Program loans for bonuses for Gannaway and others. According to Tarr, VOAD received approximately $400,000 in PPP loans, meant to help retain and pay workers during COVID-19 shutdowns in the spring of 2020.

Gannaway informed the committee that much of the PPP funding was returned to the federal government, but confirmed that PPP helped provide bonuses, including for herself. It is unclear how much was paid out in these bonuses, but according to a letter read by Tarr from Gannaway to a VOAD employee, that staff member received more than $7,000. Gannaway said these bonuses were cleared by VOAD’s CEO and auditor.

The Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability met today.

The Committee received a report from the Center for Nursing. In 2023, 23 percent of the 828 medical students enrolled in their first-year classes at the state’s three medical schools are from West Virginia. The graduation rate for all schools is 45 percent or higher and the licensure passage rate is 95 percent. There has been an increase in retaining medical professionals after training is complete. The location of residency determines practice areas. If a student does their residency in WV, they are more likely to stay in West Virginia.

In pharmacy education, 44 percent of students enrolled in their first-year classes are WV students. In dentistry, 50 percent of the students enrolled in their first-year classes are WV students.

There are several programs to help students with education funding. The Health Sciences Service Program is a state-funded program that provides financial awards for health professions students who agree to practice in underserved areas of the state. The WV Nursing Scholarship Program is a state-funded program that provides nursing scholarships to LPN, RN, and graduate nursing students in exchange for completing service obligations in WV. The Medical Student Loan Program is a need-based program for students at WV medical schools. Choose WV Practice Program provides a tuition waiver for non-resident WV medical students who agree to practice in underserved areas of the state after completing education and training. The Mental Health Loan Repayment Program is awarded to practicing health professionals who agree to complete service obligations in underserved areas.

The committee also heard a report from the State Superintendent and the finances of the school districts.