West VirginiaWest Virginia requires two trials to support child welfare workers
West Virginia’s Department of Human Services must contract for private caseworker aides in a limited trial and begin a two-county mobile-device trial on October 1, 2027.
What it does
The Department of Human Services must contract for private caseworker aides in a trial covering no more than three counties. Aides provide administrative help while the department keeps control over cases.
Beginning October 1, 2027, a two-county trial requires mobile devices for child abuse and neglect investigations. Workers must use them in at least 70 percent of cases during the study.
Argument forPrivate aides could handle administrative tasks so department workers have more time to meet with children and families.
Argument againstUsing private aides could add coordination work for department supervisors, who must keep control over every case.
More detail
The Department of Human Services must contract with qualified private providers for aides who provide administrative help using a human services technology platform. The trial covers districts totaling no more than three counties. Selection criteria include heavy workloads, persistent staff vacancies, or unusually frequent placements of children outside West Virginia. Aides must meet substantially equivalent education, experience, training, and background check requirements as department caseworkers and aides. The department keeps control over cases, and contracted aides must follow its policies and oversight. The department may continue or expand the trial statewide if its evaluation shows improved ability to handle cases or improved outcomes. The law requires establishment within 90 days of June 12, 2026. The trial runs 15 months from contract signing, including three months of setup. Before it ends, the department must report results, costs, and recommendations to the Joint Committee on Health.
The Department of Human Services must run a trial requiring mobile devices to access its case management system during child abuse and neglect investigations. The Department of Human Services selects the two counties where the trial takes place. Devices must let workers record all parts of investigations as they happen, securely upload daily, and work with existing department programs. The department must extract and analyze performance measures monthly. The department must report program status and technology use to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Health and Human Resources Accountability on July 1, 2028, and each July 1 thereafter. The trial begins October 1, 2027, and ends five years after the department fully implements it in both counties.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jun 25Chapter 61, Acts, Regular Session, 2026Latest
- Apr 1Approved by Governor Patrick Morrisey 4/1/2026Major
- Mar 18To Governor 3/18/2026To Governor
- Mar 14Approved by Governor Patrick Morrisey 4/1/2026 - House JournalMajor
- Vote recorded Senate concurred in House amendments and passed bill. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 14Approved by Governor Patrick Morrisey 4/1/2026 - Senate JournalBecame Law
- Mar 14To Governor 3/18/2026 - Senate JournalMinor
- Mar 14Completed legislative action
- Mar 14Communicated to House
- Mar 14Senate concurred in House amendments and passed bill (Roll No. 654)
- Mar 14House Message received
- Mar 13Communicated to Senate
- Vote recorded PASSAGE. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 13Title amendment adopted (Voice vote)
- Mar 13Passed House (Roll No. 519)Passed House
- Mar 13Read 3rd timeMinor
- Mar 13On 3rd reading, Special Calendar
- Mar 12Committee amendment adopted (Voice vote)
- Mar 12Amendment reported by the Clerk
- Mar 12Read 2nd timeMinor
- Mar 12On 2nd reading, Special Calendar
- Mar 11Read 1st timeMinor
- Mar 11Immediate consideration
- Mar 11With amendment, do passMinor
- Mar 5To House FinanceMinor
- Mar 5With amendment, do pass, but first to FinanceMinor
- Feb 24Markup Discussion
- Feb 20To House Health and Human ResourcesMinor
- Feb 20To Health and Human Resources then FinanceMinor
- Feb 20Introduced in HouseMinor
- Feb 20House received Senate message
- Feb 19Ordered to House
- Vote recorded Passage. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 19Passed Senate (Roll No. 145)Passed Senate
- Feb 19Read 3rd timeMinor
- Feb 19On 3rd reading
- Feb 18Read 2nd timeMinor
- Feb 18On 2nd reading
- Feb 17Read 1st timeMinor
- Feb 17On 1st reading
- Feb 16Reported do passMinor
- Jan 21To FinanceMinor
- Jan 21Reported do pass, but first to FinanceMinor
- Jan 14To Health and Human ResourcesMinor
- Jan 14Introduced in SenateMinor
- Jan 14To Health and Human Resources then FinanceMinor
- Jan 14Filed for introductionIntroduced
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