WV SB817

Requires licensure by the Office of Health Facility Licensure and Certification for private alternative adolescent residential programs, including wilderness programs, boot camps, and therapeutic boarding schools

Mandates criminal and child protection background checks for all program staff with direct access to youth participants

Prohibits programs from using physical discipline, depriving youth of basic necessities or education, admitting youth outside approved age ranges, or engaging in sexual abuse or exploitation

Requires programs to allow parents/guardians to remove their child at any time, facilitate weekly confidential video communication between youth and parents, and provide 24-hour access to the child abuse hotline

Establishes penalties for violations including fines up to $1,500, up to 90 days jail time, civil monetary penalties up to $10,000 for practices causing imminent danger, and license suspension or revocation