This bill amends the Code of West Virginia to establish new eligibility requirements for public assistance applicants who are non-custodial and custodial parents. It mandates that non-custodial parents must cooperate with child support enforcement as a condition of their eligibility for benefits. Additionally, custodial parents are required to assist in establishing paternity, although they cannot be compelled to conduct any investigative activities regarding the non-custodial parent. The bill also outlines that individuals who are non-custodial parents will be disqualified from receiving assistance if they are delinquent in court-ordered child support payments.

The bill introduces several new provisions, including a requirement for the Department to process applications for benefits within a specified timeframe and to access information from various sources to verify eligibility. It also authorizes the Department to create rules for legislative approval to ensure compliance with these new conditions. The effective date for these changes is set for January 1, 2025, or when the Department transitions to a new enhanced eligibility verification system, whichever comes first.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 9-8-4