State of WV to pay for misdemeanor conviction from time of arrest

HB 3460 would require the state of West Virginia to cover the cost of incarcerating individuals convicted of misdemeanors, starting from the time of their arrest. Currently, counties pay these costs, but this bill shifts that financial responsibility to the state by amending state law to direct the Commissioner of Corrections to use state funds for misdemeanor jail expenses. The key provision changes the funding mechanism so that counties no longer bear the cost of misdemeanor incarcerations, while the state budget would absorb these expenses. This change would directly affect counties by removing a current expense and the state by adding a new budgetary obligation for corrections.