This bill amends several sections of the West Virginia Code to clarify the structure and reporting responsibilities of the Critical Incident Review Team, which reviews child fatalities and near fatalities within the child welfare system. Notably, the bill stipulates that the commissioner must notify the Office of the Inspector General within 24 hours of a child fatality or near fatality to convene the Critical Incident Review Team. The bill also specifies that the Foster Care Ombudsman will chair the team, replacing the previous requirement for the Commissioner of the Bureau for Social Services to hold this position. Additionally, the Commissioner or their designee will remain a member of the team.

The bill further mandates updates to the child welfare data dashboard, requiring the commissioner to report on various performance indicators and child fatality information within specified timeframes. It emphasizes the need for transparency and timely reporting, including a link to the final report of the Critical Incident Review Team within 24 hours of its completion. The Office of the Inspector General is tasked with submitting initial and updated reports to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Health and Human Resources Accountability, ensuring ongoing oversight and accountability in the child welfare system.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 49-11-101, 61-12B-1, 61-12B-3, 61-12B-5