The Committee for Seniors, Children, and Family advanced a bill that seeks to update foster care regulations. This bill addresses multiple issues currently affecting the foster care crisis in the state such as getting appropriate help for children’s mental health and how proceedings should be dealt with children moving from different states. This bill would also affect the amount of safety checks done for foster homes.
In Thursday’s meeting, the committee took up House Bill 2010. The committee discussed the bill in depth and advanced the bill. House Bill 2010 also is referenced to the Health and Human Resources and the Judiciary committees.
The committee also heard from Jennifer Taylor, staff attorney for West Virginia Legal Aid. Taylor spoke to lawmakers about senior issues.
One major issue Legal Aid has seen is an increase in cases relating to undue influence. This is an influence where a person is induced to act otherwise than by their own free will or without adequate attention to the consequences. This can be done to a senior who is completely capacitated and of sound mind. West Virginia Legal Aid would like to work with lawmakers further to help this problem and how it is addressed in court cases.
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