Bill > HB4354

This bill establishes a new article in the West Virginia Code to ensure children removed from their homes and placed in the legal custody of the Department of Human Services have an adequate wardrobe and necessary items, referred to as "approved necessities" (items other than clothes needed for a child's care). The bill outlines the purpose of this provision, which is to set requirements for these items and how funding will be provided. It defines key terms like "adequate wardrobe" (clothes that are suitable for all seasons, in good condition, and fit the child throughout their placement) and "initial clothing allowance" (funding given to the "placement provider," which includes foster parents, kinship providers, or residential care facilities, to cover the costs of an adequate wardrobe and approved necessities at the start of a child's placement). The bill mandates that at the time of initial placement, a child's current clothing and necessities will be assessed, and if they are insufficient, the placement provider can request an initial clothing allowance. This allowance is intended for immediate needs, not to fully outfit the child, and the placement provider remains responsible for ongoing clothing and necessity needs. The bill specifies that the initial clothing allowance will be a minimum of $375 and can be paid via a reloadable instant card, through a child welfare worker's purchasing card, or as a reimbursement to the placement provider, with specific procedures detailed for each payment method, including timelines for issuing the instant card and requirements for keeping receipts.

Budget and Finance, Health and Social Services

http://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/Bills_history.cfm?input=4354&year=2026&sessiontype=RS&btype=bill