The bill proposes the establishment of a pilot program, designated as section 49-2-815, within the Code of West Virginia, aimed at enhancing child abuse and neglect investigations through the use of mobile devices. Set to begin on October 1, 2026, the program will require child protective service workers in two selected counties to utilize mobile devices, such as computers or tablets, to access the department's case management system. This initiative is designed to allow for contemporaneous documentation of investigations, ensuring that a digital record is created and securely uploaded daily to the department's server.

The bill outlines specific requirements for the mobile devices, including a customized operating system for child welfare casework, interoperability with existing department programs, and a mandate that the devices be used in at least 70% of cases in the pilot counties. Additionally, the program will include monthly extraction and analysis of quality metrics to assess systemic improvements in the child welfare system. The pilot program is set to last for five years, with annual reports required to be submitted to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Health and Human Resources Accountability, starting July 1, 2027, to provide updates on the program's status and technology usage metrics.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 49-2-815
Committee Substitute: 49-2-815