West Virginia Code 16-5B-13 – Hospital-based paternity program
(a) Every public and private hospital licensed pursuant to section two of this article and every birthing center licensed pursuant to section two, article two-e of this chapter, that provides obstetrical services in West Virginia shall participate in the hospital-based paternity program.
Terms Used In West Virginia Code 16-5B-13
- Bureau: means the Bureau for Public Health in the department. See West Virginia Code 16-1-2
- Department: means the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources: Provided, That beginning January 1, 2024, as used in this chapter, "department" and "Department of Health and Human Resources" means the Department of Health. See West Virginia Code 16-1-2
- State: when applied to a part of the United States and not restricted by the context, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories, and the words "United States" also include the said district and territories. See West Virginia Code 2-2-10
(b) The Bureau for Child Support enforcement as described in article eighteen, chapter forty-eight of this code shall provide all public and private hospitals and all birthing centers providing obstetric services in this state with:
(1) Information regarding the establishment of paternity;
(2) An acknowledgment of paternity fulfilling the requirements of subsection (i), section twelve, article five, chapter sixteen of this code; and
(3) The telephone contact number for the Bureau for Child Support enforcement that a parent may call for further information regarding the establishment of paternity.
(c) Prior to the discharge from any facility included in this section of any mother who has given birth to a live infant, the administrator, or his or her assignee, shall ensure that the following materials are provided to any unmarried woman and any person holding out to be the natural father of the child:
(1) Information regarding the establishment of paternity;
(2) An acknowledgment of paternity fulfilling the requirements of subsection (i), section twelve, article five, chapter sixteen of this code; and
(3) The telephone contact number for the Bureau for Child Support enforcement that a parent may call for further information regarding the establishment of paternity.
(d) The Bureau for Child Support enforcement shall notify the state department of health of any failure of any hospital or birthing center to conform with the requirements of this section.
(e) Any hospital or birthing center described in this article should provide the information detailed in subsection (c) of this section at any time when such facility is providing obstetrical services.