This bill amends the West Virginia Code to enhance the reporting and management of child abuse and neglect cases. It requires immediate reporting of such cases to the Bureau for Social Services via a 24-hour hotline or web-based system, which must provide a case identifier to the reporter. The Bureau is mandated to act on all reports, including those from mandatory reporters, and must forward serious abuse cases to law enforcement. Additionally, the bill stipulates annual reporting to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance regarding the intake process, thereby increasing accountability in handling these sensitive cases.

Moreover, the bill establishes a Critical Incident Review Team under the Office of the Inspector General, responsible for reviewing child fatalities and near fatalities within the child welfare system. This team, composed of representatives from various agencies, will meet quarterly and within 10 days of an incident to analyze trends and recommend prevention strategies. The team is also tasked with submitting reports to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Health and Human Resources Accountability, which will include statistical data and recommendations. Importantly, the proceedings and records of the team are confidential and exempt from the Freedom of Information Act, ensuring the protection of sensitive information while allowing for necessary data sharing with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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