The bill proposes the establishment of a pilot program under the Code of West Virginia, specifically adding a new section, 49-2-815, aimed at enhancing child abuse and neglect investigations through the use of mobile devices. Set to begin on October 1, 2027, the program will require the Department of Human Services to implement mobile technology in two selected counties, allowing child protective service workers to access the department's case management system in real-time during investigations. The bill outlines specific requirements for the mobile devices, including a customized operating system for child welfare casework, the ability to create contemporaneous digital records, secure daily uploads to the department's server, interoperability with existing programs, and a usage target of at least 70% of cases in the pilot counties.

Additionally, the bill mandates the extraction and analysis of quality metrics on a monthly basis to facilitate systemic improvements in the child welfare system. The pilot program is set to last for five years from its full implementation, with annual reports required to be submitted to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Health and Human Resources Accountability starting July 1, 2028. This initiative aims to streamline data collection, reduce manual input by child protective services workers, and ultimately enhance service delivery to children in need.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 49-2-815