WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE
2025 REGULAR SESSION
Introduced
Senate Bill 542
By Senator Tarr
[Introduced February 19, 2025; referredto the Select Committee on Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health; and then to the Committee on the Judiciary]
A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding a new section, designated ยง16B-3-11a, relating to violations and felony penalty for stand-alone methadone treatment programs or clinics.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
## ARTICLE 3. HOSPITALS AND SIMILAR INSTITUTIONS.
Any person, partnership, association, or corporation establishing, conducting, managing, or operating a standalone methadone treatment program or clinic, that is not a part of a comprehensive primary care clinic, is guilty of a felony, and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished for the first offense by a fine of not more than $1000, or by imprisonment in a state correctional facility for not less than one year, or both fined and imprisoned. Each day of a continuing violation after conviction shall be considered a separate offense.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to provide that standalone methadone treatment programs or clinics not operated as part of a comprehensive primary care clinic are guilty of a felony offense.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.