The bill amends West Virginia Code §49-4-111, which outlines the criteria and procedures for the temporary removal of a child from a foster home. Key changes include a reduction in the maximum duration a child can remain in a foster home from eighteen months to fifteen months, or fifty percent of the child's life, before certain termination conditions apply. The bill specifies that a foster care arrangement may only be terminated if it is in the best interest of the child and under specific circumstances, such as the child being returned to their biological parents or the foster parents agreeing to the termination. Additionally, the bill introduces provisions for notifying foster or adoptive parents of siblings regarding a child's availability for placement and allows for the possibility of sibling reunification under certain conditions.

Furthermore, the bill clarifies the department's discretion in terminating foster care arrangements when siblings are involved, emphasizing the best interests of the children. It allows the department to petition the court for waivers of notification in compelling circumstances and outlines the process for maintaining sibling separation if it is deemed harmful to one or more children. The bill also ensures that children aged 12 and older have the option to remain in their current foster care arrangement if it is in their best interest, reinforcing the focus on the child's welfare throughout the foster care process.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 49-4-111
Committee Substitute: 49-4-111
Committee Substitute for the Committee Substitute: 49-4-111
Engrossed Committee Substitute for the Committee Substitute: 49-4-111