The bill aims to enhance the efficiency of child abuse and neglect investigations in West Virginia by mandating the Department of Human Services to implement mobile technology for child protective services workers. Specifically, it introduces a new article, 49-2-815, which requires the use of a customized operating system on mobile devices that enables workers to create contemporaneous digital records of their investigations. These records must be uploaded automatically on a daily basis, ensuring that data is consistently updated without the need for manual input.

Additionally, the operating system must be compatible with existing department programs, allowing for the extraction of quality metrics that can be analyzed for systemic improvements in the child welfare system. The bill stipulates that these quality metrics should be reviewed monthly by the secretary and their staff, facilitating real-time access to data for quality improvement analysis. Overall, the legislation is designed to streamline the investigative process and improve service delivery to children in need.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 49-2-815