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Senate committee approves Originating Bill 1 to set direct-observation drug-testing schedule in treatment programs
Summary
A Senate committee adopted Originating Bill 1 and reported it to the full Senate with a recommendation that it pass. Committee counsel said the bill prescribes a schedule of direct-observation drug tests during treatment and maintenance and names the Office of Inspector General for oversight.
A West Virginia Senate committee voted by voice to adopt Originating Bill 1 and to report the bill to the full Senate with a recommendation that it pass. Committee counsel told the panel the bill sets a required schedule of direct-observation drug testing for patients in substance-use treatment.
Committee counsel explained the bill’s testing progression, saying, “the purpose of the bill is to set forth the progression of testing guide, and the provider shall perform a comprehensive, quantitative, direct observation drug test.” Counsel described the timetable in the bill as follows: after continuing treatment for six weeks a comprehensive quantitative direct-observation test is required; during treatment a direct-observation quantitative test must be performed every two months; and, in the maintenance phase, a direct-observation qualitative test must be performed every six months until discharge, counsel said. Counsel also stated the bill names the Office of Inspector General as the oversight office for related rules and enforcement. The counsel said the bill would be effective on passage and that there were no other committee references.
The committee held two formal voice votes related to the measure: it adopted the bill language by voice and then the vice chair moved that the originating bill be reported to the full Senate with a recommendation that it do pass. Both votes were taken by voice with the chair announcing, "the ayes have it." No roll-call vote totals were recorded in the transcript.
Committee members asked no amendments and offered no floor-substituting language at the time recorded. The transcript record contains the committee counsel’s full explanation to the panel and the subsequent motions to adopt and to report the bill to the Senate.
What happens next: the committee reported the measure to the full Senate with a recommendation that it pass; the bill’s effective date is listed in counsel’s presentation as passage. The transcript does not record any further committee referrals or a floor action date.
Ending: The committee proceeded to other agenda items after adopting and reporting Originating Bill 1.
