Bill > SB545

This bill establishes the "Residential Treatment Capacity Expansion Fund," a special revenue account within the State Treasury, to address the state's fragmented system for serving children needing social, emotional, and behavioral health services, particularly those placed out-of-state. This fund, which will not revert to the general revenue fund at the end of the fiscal year, will be used exclusively to support the recruitment and development of in-state residential treatment providers, including incentives and facility expansion, as well as startup costs, workforce development, and specialized treatment models. It will also fund activities to transition children currently placed out-of-state back into in-state settings, including assessment, planning, transportation, and transition services. Furthermore, the fund will support the development of treatment models, quality standards, oversight systems, and training materials, and any other capacity-building activities deemed necessary by the Secretary of the Department of Human Services to increase in-state placement availability and reduce reliance on out-of-state providers. Disbursements from this fund will be authorized by the Secretary of the Department of Human Services and can cover expenses incurred even before the bill's effective date, provided they align with the fund's purposes.

Budget and Finance

http://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/Bills_history.cfm?input=545&year=2026&sessiontype=RS&btype=bill