This bill amends West Virginia Code §49-4-601a to extend the time frame for the Department of Human Services to identify relatives and fictive kin of a child who has been removed from their home. The bill specifies that the department must now file a list of known relatives and fictive kin with the court within 21 calendar days after a petition for removal has been filed, an increase from the previous requirement of seven days. Additionally, any party to the case is allowed to submit their own list of relatives and fictive kin within 21 days after the department's filing, also an extension from the previous seven-day limit.

Furthermore, the bill requires the department to investigate and determine the willingness and ability of the identified relatives and fictive kin to act as foster or kinship parents within 60 days of the petition filing, an increase from the previous 45-day requirement. These changes aim to provide more time for the department to thoroughly search for potential placements, ensuring that children are placed in the least restrictive living arrangements with family or fictive kin whenever possible.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 49-4-601a