The bill amends various sections of the West Virginia Code to enhance child welfare processes, particularly in child protective services investigations and multidisciplinary treatment planning. Key provisions include the requirement for the Department of Health and Human Resources to provide parents with a "Parents Guide to Working with Child Protective Services" at the beginning of an investigation, outlining the process and parental rights. It also establishes a centralized intake reporting system for child abuse and neglect, mandating reports through a 24-hour hotline or web-based system, while ensuring confidentiality and retention of reports for a specified duration.

Additionally, the legislation introduces the Critical Incident Review Team, responsible for reviewing serious child welfare incidents, and outlines its composition and duties. The bill enhances transparency by allowing the release of information related to child abuse and neglect proceedings to certain entities, while maintaining the confidentiality of reporters' identities, except in specific cases. It mandates the Department of Human Services to publicly disclose information on child fatalities or near fatalities, while ensuring the confidentiality of reporters in most situations. The bill emphasizes the importance of confidentiality in the proceedings of the Critical Incident Review Team and aligns with privacy standards set by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 49-1-201, 49-4-405
Committee Substitute: 49-1-201, 49-4-405
Engrossed Committee Substitute: 49-1-201, 49-4-405
Enrolled Committee Substitute: 49-1-201, 49-2-809, 49-4-405, 49-5-101, 49-11-101, 49-2-802a, 61-12B-1, 61-12B-2, 61-12B-3, 61-12B-4, 61-12B-5, 61-12B-7