WEST virginia legislature

2026 regular session

Committee Substitute

for

House Bill 5004

By Delegates Masters, Watt, Pritt, Pinson, and Hornbuckle

[Originating in the Standing Committee on Health and Human Resources; Reported February 26, 2026]

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding two new sections, designated §16-1-8a, relating to acute-onset neuroimmune disorders; providing education.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

Chapter 16. Public Health.

Article 1. State Public Health SYStem.

§16-1-8a. Inclusion of PANS and PANDAS in existing public health programs.

(a) The Commissioner of the Bureau for Public Health, in consultation with the State Health Officer, shall, in its existing public health programs and services, to educate health care professionals on evaluating and treating Pediatric Acute-Onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS) and Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections (PANDAS).

(b) The Bureau for Public Health shall, in its existing, relevant public health outreach programs, incorporate information to increase understanding and awareness of PANS and PANDAS, including signs to be aware of, such as;

(1) Presence of obsessive compulsive disorder and/or tics;

(2) Symptoms begin between age three and puberty;

(3) Acute-onset and episodic (relapsing-remitting) course;

(4) Association with Group A Streptococcal (GAS) infection; and

(5) Association with Neurological Abnormalities disease.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to provide education on PANS/PANDAS.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.