The proposed bill introduces the Child Captivity Prevention Act, which aims to protect home-schooled children relocating to West Virginia from potential abuse or neglect. It establishes a process whereby county school boards must notify the Department of Human Services when a child moves to the state and is intended to be home-schooled. Following this notification, the Department will conduct a home visit to ensure the child's safety and well-being, which may include a private conversation with the child, provided parental consent is obtained. The bill emphasizes that this visit is meant to observe the home environment for any immediate safety concerns and to provide informational assistance.

Additionally, the bill ensures that all information collected during these visits remains confidential and is exempt from public disclosure, aligning with state and federal child welfare laws. It also clarifies that the provisions of this section do not infringe upon parental rights, do not require parental approval for relocation, and do not authorize routine investigations without cause. The overall intent is to create a supportive mechanism that respects parental rights while safeguarding the welfare of children who are home-schooled in the state.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 18-8-1b