{"data":{"id":"us-wv/w.-va.-code-16b-16-9","jurisdiction":"us-wv","citation":"W. Va. Code § 16B-16-9","heading":"Willful interference; retaliation; penalties.","body":"(a) An individual who willfully interferes with or impedes the Foster Care Ombudsman in the performance of his or her official duties shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than $100.\n(b) An individual who institutes or commits a discriminatory, disciplinary, retaliatory, or reprisal action against a foster child, foster parent, or kinship parent for having filed a complaint with or provided information in good faith to the Foster Care Ombudsman in carrying out the duties pursuant to this article is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than $100.\n(c) An individual violating the provisions of subsection (a) or (b) of this section is, for the second or any subsequent offense under either of these subsections, guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than $250. Each day of a continuing violation after conviction shall be considered a separate offense.\n(d) Nothing in this section infringes upon the rights of an employer to supervise, discipline, or terminate an employee for other reasons.","path":["CHAPTER 16B. INSPECTOR GENERAL.","ARTICLE 16. FOSTER CARE OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM."],"source_url":"https://code.wvlegislature.gov/16B-16-9/","current_through":"as of 2026-08-03; contains at least the enactments of the 2026 Regular Session","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-06T00:23:51Z","sha256":"1904b1196e480c5fcb123a8f926d1ed36ba81391a288feb070c316d724d42e5b","source_id":"us-wv","stale":true,"prev":"us-wv/w.-va.-code-16b-16-8","next":"us-wv/w.-va.-code-16b-16-10"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}