Bill > SB525

This bill establishes a pilot program for the use of technology in child abuse and neglect investigations, requiring the Department of Health and Human Resources to implement a project in two chosen counties starting October 1, 2026. This program will involve child protective service (CPS) workers using mobile devices, such as computers or tablets, to access the department's case management system and create contemporaneous digital records of investigations. The mobile devices will feature a customized operating system for child welfare casework, automatically and securely upload data daily, and be interoperable with existing department programs to extract quality metrics for systemic improvement. The pilot program will run for five years after full implementation, and the department must submit annual reports to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Health and Human Resources Accountability starting July 1, 2027, detailing the program's status and technology usage metrics.

Health and Social Services

http://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/Bills_history.cfm?input=525&year=2026&sessiontype=RS&btype=bill