This bill amends several sections of the Code of West Virginia to enhance the reporting and management of child abuse and neglect cases. It introduces a requirement for immediate reporting of such cases to the Bureau for Social Services through a 24-hour hotline or web-based system, which must provide a specific case identifier to the reporter. Additionally, all electronic reports must be retained for a minimum of 12 months. A new Critical Incident Review Team is established to review child fatalities and near fatalities within the child welfare system, aiming to improve prevention and intervention strategies.

The bill also improves transparency in child welfare proceedings by allowing the Foster Care Ombudsman access to relevant information while protecting the confidentiality of reporters. It updates the child welfare data dashboard to include performance indicators and demographic data related to child fatalities, ensuring this information is publicly accessible and regularly updated. The Critical Incident Review Team, composed of various stakeholders, will analyze trends and risk factors associated with child fatalities, maintain confidentiality of records, and submit reports to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Health and Human Resources Accountability, while ensuring that their proceedings are protected from discovery or subpoena in legal contexts.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 49-2-809, 49-5-101, 49-11-101, 61-12B-1, 61-12B-2, 61-12B-3, 61-12B-4, 61-12B-5, 61-12B-6, 61-12B-7
Committee Substitute: 49-2-809, 49-5-101, 49-11-101, 61-12B-1, 61-12B-2, 61-12B-3, 61-12B-4, 61-12B-5, 61-12B-6, 61-12B-7
Engrossed Committee Substitute: 49-2-809, 49-5-101, 49-11-101, 61-12B-1, 61-12B-2, 61-12B-3, 61-12B-4, 61-12B-5, 61-12B-6, 61-12B-7