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West Virginia2026Enacted

HB4022

HB4022: Rules for Placing Child Protective Services Workers

Last scannedAug 22, 2026, 11:08 AM

In one sentence

This law requires the state to place child protective services workers in counties based on population, referrals, and caseloads.

What it does

  • Requires the commissioner to assign child protective services workers by county using U.S. Census data for population counts, along with referral numbers and average caseloads.
  • Allows the commissioner to move workers between counties if immediate needs change based on current referrals and caseloads.
  • Mandates an annual report on worker placement sent to a legislative oversight group every July 1.
  • Requires the report to list any changes in worker numbers that lasted longer than three weeks during the past year.

Who it affects

  • The state commissioner responsible for child protective services staffing.
  • Child protective service workers stationed across West Virginia counties.
  • Counties with varying populations and caseloads of reported cases.
  • The Legislative Oversight Commission on Health and Human Resources Accountability.

Limits and unknowns

  • The law does not specify exact numbers of workers required for each county size.
  • It is unclear how much funding will be provided to hire additional workers if needed.
  • The text does not define what specific data counts as an 'immediate need' beyond referrals and caseloads.

Plain language

Terms to know

Caseload
The number of active cases or families assigned to a worker at one time.
Referrals
Reports sent to the agency about possible child abuse or neglect that need investigation.

Official record

Sources

Validated
Official bill pageIntroduced textCurrent bill textStored full record

Official summary

CPS Allocation

Official activity

Bill history

  1. Chapter 65, Acts, Regular Session, 2026H
  2. Approved by Governor 3/14/2026 - House JournalH
  3. Approved by Governor 3/14/2026H
  4. Approved by Governor 3/14/2026 - Senate JournalS
  5. To Governor 3/9/2026 - Senate JournalS
  6. House received Senate messageH
  7. Completed legislative actionS
  8. Communicated to HouseS
  9. Effective from passage (Roll No. 363)S
  10. Passed Senate (Roll No. 362)S
  11. Senate concurred in House title amendment (Voice vote)S
  12. House Message receivedS
  13. Communicated to SenateH
  14. Effective from passage (Roll No. 350)H
  15. House concurred in Senate amendment with further title amendment (Roll No. 349)H
  16. House received Senate messageH
  17. Senate requests House to concurS
  18. Effective from passage (Roll No. 313)S
  19. Passed Senate with amended title (Roll No. 312)S
  20. Read 3rd timeS

Changes

Amendments

2 stored

hb4022 hfat mcgeehan 3-5 adopted.htm

Adopted

hb4022 hfat mcgeehan 3-5.htm

Filed