Bill > HB4511

This bill establishes a mandatory drug screening program for individuals applying to become foster parents, kinship parents, or caregivers for displaced children in the custody of the Department of Human Services, which is the state agency responsible for child welfare. The program defines "caregiver" broadly to include foster parents, kinship parents, and residential treatment facility officials, and specifies the types of drugs that will be tested for, including amphetamines, cocaine, marijuana, and opiates. A valid prescription for a detected substance serves as a defense against a failed drug test. While the Department of Human Services will initially cover the costs of drug testing, applicants who request a re-test at an alternative facility will bear that expense. Applicants with positive drug tests will be required to complete substance abuse treatment and counseling, with repeated positive tests leading to temporary or permanent ineligibility for child placement. Refusal to undergo drug screening or testing also results in ineligibility. The bill also mandates investigations by Child Protective Services for applicants suspended for 12 months due to drug test results, ensures the confidentiality of test results, and requires the Secretary of the Department to create emergency rules for the program's implementation. Finally, it outlines penalties for misrepresenting facts on applications and mandates annual reporting on the program's effectiveness and costs.

Health and Social Services

http://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/Bills_history.cfm?input=4511&year=2026&sessiontype=RS&btype=bill