WV SB538

Panel attorneys will receive a minimum compensation rate of $100 per hour for all legal services, court waiting time, and travel, replacing the previous split rates of $60-70/hour for out-of-court work and $80-90/hour for in-court work

Paralegal compensation increases to a minimum of $20 per hour for out-of-court services, with Public Defender Services required to publish annual rates on their website by June 15

Investigator reimbursement rates increase to a minimum of $30 per hour, with annual rate updates published by June 15

Public Defender Services must submit annual reports beginning December 1, 2026 to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Health and Human Resources, Foster Care Ombudsman, and Supreme Court of Appeals detailing guardian ad litem services in child abuse and neglect cases

Reports must include metrics on multidisciplinary team meeting attendance, caseloads, case duration, client visits, and billable hours for panel attorneys serving as guardians ad litem