Bill > HB5204

This bill, titled the Child Captivity Prevention Act, establishes a process to ensure the safety of children who move to West Virginia and are being homeschooled. It recognizes that children attending traditional schools have regular contact with mandatory reporters, individuals trained to identify abuse or neglect, and that homeschooled children may lack this crucial oversight. Therefore, when a parent or guardian in West Virginia applies to homeschool a child who has recently relocated to the state and has not been enrolled in a public or private school, the local school board must notify the Department of Human Services. The Department of Human Services will then contact the family to schedule a "student education and wellness assurance visit" to their home. This visit, conducted with parental consent, may include a brief, private conversation with the child and is intended to provide informational assistance and observe for any immediate safety concerns. If the visit reveals signs of neglect, abuse, or imminent harm, an investigation will be initiated according to existing child welfare laws. All information gathered during these visits is confidential and will only be shared as permitted by law, and the bill clarifies that it does not authorize routine child abuse investigations or infringe upon parental rights.