VirginiaChild abuse or neglect; centralized hotline for reports or complaints, etc.
What it does
Department of Social Services; corrective action plans; centralized hotline for reports or complaints of child abuse or neglect. Establishes a centralized hotline for reports and complaints of child abuse or neglect and grants the Commissioner of Social Services the authority to create and enforce a corrective action plan for any local board of social services or local department of social services that (i) fails to administer public assistance and social services programs in accordance with applicable laws and regulations or (ii) takes any action or fails to act in a manner that poses a substantial risk to the health, safety, or well-being of a child or adult. The bill permits similar authority for any local board of social services that (a) fails to provide child welfare services in accordance with applicable law or regulations or (b) takes any action or fails to act in a manner that poses a substantial risk to the health, safety, or well-being of a child.
More detail
Under the bill, if a local board or department fails to comply with a corrective action plan, the Commissioner has the authority to temporarily assume control of all or part of the local board's operations. The bill also provides that, when a local board of social services or local department of social services requests assistance, the Commissioner has the authority to utilize staff of the Department of Social Services or contract with private entities to provide public assistance and social services programs in the locality served by the local board or department. The bill requires the Department of Social Services to establish and maintain a hotline for reports and complaints of child abuse or neglect and specifies that the Department shall determine the validity of such reports and complaints. The bill eliminates the requirement that local departments must be capable of receiving and responding to reports and complaints of abuse or neglect and instead requires that any complaint of child abuse or neglect received by a local department shall be immediately forwarded to the Department's child abuse and neglect hotline. The bill also adds adult services to the definition of "social services" for purposes of Title 63.2 (Welfare (Social Services)). The bill directs the Department of Social Services to (1) promulgate regulations necessary to implement the provisions of the bill and (2) contract with a third party by August 1, 2026, to conduct a comprehensive study and review of the screening process used for child protective services complaints across Virginia. The bill also directs the Secretary of Health and Human Resources to convene a Social Services Task Force to develop a comprehensive improvement plan to address changes needed within the State Department of Social Services and the local departments of social services. The provisions of the bill related to centralized intake have a delayed effective date of July 1, 2027.
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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
- Apr 13Approved by Governor Abigail Spanberger-Chapter 900 (effective 7/1/2026)Became Law
- Apr 7Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB640)
- Apr 6Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB640)
- Mar 31Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026To Governor
- Mar 31Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026Minor
- Mar 31Signed by SpeakerMajor
- Mar 30Signed by PresidentMajor
- Mar 30Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB640ER)Major
- Mar 30EnrolledMinor
- Mar 13Conference report agreed to by House (92-Y 0-N 0-A)Minor
- Vote recorded H VOTE:. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Adopt Conference Committee Report R. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 13Conference report agreed to by Senate (39-Y 0-N 0-A)Minor
- Mar 13Conference Report released
- Mar 11House Conferees: Tran, Callsen, Kent
- Mar 11Conferees appointed by House
- Mar 9Senate Conferees: Pillion, VanValkenburg, Favola
- Vote recorded Accede Conference Committee R. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 9Conferees appointed by Senate
- Mar 9Senate acceded to request Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
- Mar 5House requested conference committeeMinor
- Mar 5House insisted on substituteMajor
- Mar 4House substitute rejected by Senate (0-Y 40-N 0-A)
- Vote recorded Concur House Substitute R. Result: fail.Upper
- Mar 4Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB640)
- Mar 2Passed House with substitute Block Vote (99-Y 0-N 0-A)Major
- Vote recorded H VOTE:. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded H VOTE:. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 2Reconsideration of passage agreed to by House
- Mar 2Passed House with substitute (98-Y 0-N 0-A)Passed House
- Mar 2Engrossed by House - committee substituteMajor
- Mar 2committee substitute agreed toMajor
- Mar 2Read third timeMinor
- Feb 27Read second timeMinor
- Feb 25Reported from Appropriations (22-Y 0-N)Minor
- Vote recorded Reported from Appropriations. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 24Assigned HAPP sub: Health & Human ResourcesMinor
- Vote recorded Reported from Health and Human Services with substitute. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 24Reported from Health and Human Services with substitute and referred to Appropriations (22-Y 0-N)Minor
- Feb 24Committee substitute printed 26108457D-H1Major
- Feb 24Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB640)
- Feb 19Referred to Committee on Health and Human ServicesMinor
- Feb 19Read first timeMinor
- Feb 19Placed on Calendar
- Feb 13Read third time and passed Senate (39-Y 0-N 0-A)Passed Senate
- Vote recorded Passage R. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 12Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Voice Vote)Major
- Feb 12Committee substitute agreed to (Voice Vote)Major
- Feb 12Committee substitute rejected (Voice Vote)
- Feb 12Read second timeMinor
- Feb 11Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
- Vote recorded Constitutional reading dispensed R. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 11Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
- Feb 11Rules suspended
- Feb 11Committee substitute printed 26107316D-S2Major
- Feb 10Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute (14-Y 0-N 1-A)Minor
- Vote recorded Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute. Result: pass.Upper
- Jan 30Committee substitute printed 26106711D-S1Major
- Vote recorded Reported from Rehabilitation and Social Services with substitute. Result: pass.Upper
- Jan 30Reported from Rehabilitation and Social Services with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (13-Y 1-N 1-A)Minor
- Jan 30Senate committee offered
- Jan 27Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB640)
- Jan 14Referred to Committee on Rehabilitation and Social ServicesMinor
- Jan 14Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104930DIntroduced