The bill introduced on January 19, 2026, aims to amend the Code of West Virginia by establishing a new section, 49-2-815, which outlines a pilot program for the use of mobile devices in child abuse and neglect investigations. Set to begin on October 1, 2027, the program will require child protective service workers in two designated counties to utilize mobile devices, such as computers or tablets, to access the department's case management system. This initiative is designed to enable workers to conduct investigations in real-time and create contemporaneous digital records of their findings.

The bill specifies several requirements for the mobile devices, including a customized operating system for child welfare casework, secure daily uploads to the department's server, and interoperability with existing programs for quality metrics analysis. The pilot program is set to last for five years, with the department required to file annual reports starting July 1, 2028, to update the Legislative Oversight Commission on the program's status and technology usage metrics. Overall, the bill seeks to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of child welfare investigations through the integration of modern technology.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 49-2-815