Bill > HB4580

This bill establishes a pilot program for the use of mobile devices, such as computers or tablets, by child protective service (CPS) workers to assist in child abuse and neglect investigations, beginning October 1, 2026, in two counties chosen by the department. The program requires the mobile devices to have a customized operating system designed for child welfare casework, allowing workers to create immediate digital records of investigations that are automatically and securely uploaded daily to the department's server. This system must also be compatible with existing department programs to extract data for analysis and improvement, and the devices must be used in at least 70 percent of cases in the pilot counties. The pilot program will conclude five years after its full implementation, and the department is mandated to submit annual reports to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Health and Human Resources Accountability starting July 1, 2027, detailing the program's progress and the metrics related to technology use.

Government Affairs

http://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/Bills_history.cfm?input=4580&year=2026&sessiontype=RS&btype=bill