Relating to authorizing the Governor’s Committee on Crime, Delinquency, and Correction to promulgate a legislative rule relating to sexual assault forensic examinations
HB2256 authorizes a legislative rule for the Governor’s Committee on Crime, Delinquency, and Correction concerning sexual assault forensic examinations. The bill does not itself create a new substantive program or criminal penalty; instead, it gives legal effect to an administrative rule that was filed, revised to address objections from the Legislative Rule-Making Review Committee, and refiled for authorization. The referenced rule is identified as 149 CSR 11 and is tied to the state’s authority under §15-9B-4.
In practical terms, the bill allows the committee’s rule on sexual assault forensic examinations to move forward as part of West Virginia’s regulatory framework. That means the standards, procedures, or administrative requirements contained in the rule would become authorized under state law, affecting how sexual assault forensic exams are handled by relevant agencies and providers. The bill amends §64-6-1 of the Code of West Virginia, which is the statutory section used to authorize legislative rules.
The general sentiment around the bill appears neutral to supportive based on the bill’s straightforward authorization purpose and the absence of recorded opposition, votes, or committee debate in the provided materials. Because the bill is a rule-authorization measure rather than a policy overhaul, it is typically the kind of legislation that advances with limited controversy unless the underlying rule is disputed.
Notable points of contention, if any, would likely center on the contents of the underlying sexual assault forensic examination rule rather than the authorization bill itself. The text indicates the rule was modified to meet objections from the Legislative Rule-Making Review Committee before being refiled, suggesting that any concerns were addressed through the rulemaking process. No specific objections, amendments, or recorded dissent are included in the provided context.
HB2256 affects state law by authorizing a legislative rule under §64-6-1, thereby giving legal force to the Governor’s Committee on Crime, Delinquency, and Correction’s rule on sexual assault forensic examinations (149 CSR 11). The bill does not directly change criminal law or victim services statutes, but it enables administrative standards governing how sexual assault forensic exams are conducted, which can affect law enforcement, medical providers, forensic examiners, and survivors seeking evidence collection and related services.
The available context suggests a generally neutral-to-supportive sentiment. The bill is a routine rule-authorization measure, and there are no recorded votes, transcripts, or public objections in the provided materials. The fact that the rule was revised to address prior review committee objections indicates procedural scrutiny, but not necessarily broader opposition to the bill itself.
Any contention would likely relate to the substance of the sexual assault forensic examination rule rather than the authorization bill. The only explicit sign of dispute is that the rule was modified to meet objections from the Legislative Rule-Making Review Committee before being refiled, implying some earlier concerns about the rule’s content or implementation. No specific stakeholders, amendments, or opposing arguments are identified in the provided record.