Bill > HB4357

This bill modifies the criteria and procedures for terminating foster care arrangements, particularly concerning the duration of placement and sibling reunification. Key changes include reducing the period a child must be in foster care before termination requires specific justification from eighteen months to six months, and removing the automatic termination of a foster care arrangement solely due to a child being reunited with a sibling. The bill also clarifies that if a child has been in foster care for over six months and parental rights have been terminated, the department can terminate the arrangement if a better long-term placement is found, but children aged 12 or older will have the option to remain if it's in their best interest. Furthermore, the bill mandates that within 10 days of a child entering foster care, the department must notify foster or adoptive parents of siblings to see if they wish to take in the new child, and it outlines procedures for reuniting siblings, with exceptions for cases where separation is deemed in the children's best interest or harmful.

Health and Social Services

http://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/Bills_history.cfm?input=4357&year=2026&sessiontype=RS&btype=bill