§16B-3-13. Hospital-based paternity program.
(a) Every public and private hospital licensed pursuant to §16B-3-2 of this code and every birthing center licensed pursuant to §16B-20-1 et seq. of this code, that provides obstetrical services in West Virginia, shall participate in the hospital-based paternity program.
(b) The Bureau for Child Support Enforcement as described in §48-18-101 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 §16-5-10 of this code; and
(3) The telephone 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 himself or herself to be the natural father of the child:
(1) Information regarding the establishment of paternity;
(2) An acknowledgment of paternity fulfilling the requirements of §16-5-10 of this code; and
(3) The telephone 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 Office of Health Facility Licensure and Certification 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.
