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 from the filing of the petition, an increase from the previous 45-day requirement. The overall purpose of this legislation is to provide more time for the department to thoroughly identify and assess potential placements for children in out-of-home care, ensuring that placement preferences are given to relatives and fictive kin.

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