West Virginia2026Enacted

HB4395

Rules for Investigating School Staff Safety Issues

Last scannedAug 22, 2026, 11:08 AM

In one sentence

This law requires school leaders to report safety concerns about staff quickly, keeps investigations going even if a worker quits or moves schools, and creates a private state database of these cases.

Requires principals, supervisors, or administrators to tell the county superintendent within 24 hours if an employee is accused of conduct that could harm student safety or impact the learning environment.
Mandates that investigations continue even if the employee resigns from their job or transfers to a different school before the process ends.
Orders county superintendents to send details about suspended, dismissed, transferred, or resigned employees involved in misconduct investigations to the state superintendent within seven business days.
Creates a confidential database managed by the state that lists individuals investigated for threatening student safety and includes the reason for each investigation.
Allows nonpublic schools to choose whether to share information with the state so it can be added to the central database.

School principals, supervisors, and administrators who must report allegations quickly.
County superintendents responsible for forwarding investigation details to the state.
The state superintendent of schools who maintains the confidential database.
Nonpublic schools that may choose to provide information about their staff investigations.

The law does not change existing rules about reporting child abuse and neglect under other state laws.
Suspended employees may still attend public events on school property or visit as parents if they do not threaten safety, disrupt learning, interfere with the investigation, violate court orders, or damage property.

Plain language

Administrative leave: A temporary removal from work duties where an employee does not interact with students while an investigation happens.
Rational nexus: A clear connection between a crime or bad behavior and the person's ability to do their job at school.

Official record

Validated

Relating to investigations of allegations of child safety violations for school personnel.

Official activity

Changes

6 stored

hb4395 hfa foggin 2-26 _1 adopted.htm

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hb4395 hfa foggin 2-26 _1.htm

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hb4395 sfa grady _1 3-9 adopetd.htm

Filed

hb4395 sfa grady _1 3-9.htm

Filed

hb4395 sfat grady _1 3-10 adopted.htm

Adopted

hb4395 sfat grady _1 3-10.htm

Filed