Plain English Breakdown
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HB4580 • 2026
Relating to the establishment of a pilot program for the use of mobile devices in child abuse and neglect investigations.
Relating to the establishment of a pilot program for the use of mobile devices in child abuse and neglect investigations.
Children
Passed Legislature
This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.
Bill History
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2026-01-20
H
To House Government Adminstration
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2026-01-20
H
To House Government Organization
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2026-01-20
H
Introduced in House
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2026-01-20
H
To Government Organization
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2026-01-20
H
Filed for introduction
Official Summary Text
Relating to the establishment of a pilot program for the use of mobile devices in child abuse and neglect investigations.
Current Bill Text
Read the full stored bill text
HB 4580 Text skip navigation SENATE PRESIDENT SENATORS COMMITTEES VIDEO/AUDIO DISTRICT MAPS SENATE CLERK SENATE RULES HOUSE SPEAKER DELEGATES COMMITTEES VIDEO/AUDIO DISTRICT MAPS HOUSE CLERK HOUSE RULES HOUSE STAFF JOINT INTERIM COMMITTEES LEGISLATIVE ADMINISTRATOR LEGISLATIVE SERVICES DIVISION PUBLIC INFORMATION LEGISLATIVE AUTOMATED SYSTEMS DIVISION LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR'S OFFICE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION & RESEARCH DIVISION POST AUDIT DIVISION BUDGET DIVISION REGULATORY AND FISCAL AFFAIRS DIVISION CLAIMS COMMISSION CRIME VICTIMS RULE-MAKING REVIEW SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS JUDICIAL COMP. COMMISSION JOINT RULES STAFF INFO BILL STATUS BILL STATUS BILL TRACKING STATE LAW WEST VIRGINIA CODE ACTS OF THE LEGISLATURE CODE OF 1931 WV CONSTITUTION US CONSTITUTION REPORTS AGENCY REPORTS AGENCY GRANT AWARDS PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS POST AUDITS EDUCATIONAL CITIZEN’S GUIDE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM PAGE PROGRAM PUBLICATIONS PHOTO GALLERY CAPITOL HISTORY HOW A BILL BECOMES LAW CONTACT SENATE ROSTER HOUSE ROSTER PUBLIC INFO. NEWS RELEASES HELPFUL LINKS Introduced Version House Bill 4580 History | Email Key: Green = existing Code. Red = new code to be enacted WEST virginia legislature FISCAL NOTE 2026 regular session Introduced House Bill 4580 By Delegates Burkhammer, Mazzocchi, Chiarelli, Flanigan, Heckert, Kimble, Miller; and Pinson [Introduced January 20, 2026; referred to the Committee on Government Organization] A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding a new section, designated §49-2-815, relating to the establishment of a pilot program for the use of mobile devices in child abuse and neglect investigations; setting forth effective date; setting forth requirements for system; setting forth term of pilot program; and requiring reporting. Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia: ARTICLE 2. STATE RESPONSIBILITIES FOR CHILDREN. §49-2-815. Pilot program for the use of technology in child abuse and neglect investigations. (a) Beginning October 1, 2026, the department shall implement a pilot project for two counties requiring the use of mobile device including, but not limited to, a computer or tablet to access the department’s case management system in order to assist child protective service workers to conduct child abuse and neglect investigations contemporaneously with the investigation. (b) The department shall determine which counties shall participate in the pilot program. (c) The department shall develop policies to implement the pilot program which shall include, at a minimum, the following: (1) The mobile device shall have an operating system that is customized for child welfare casework; (2) The operating system on the mobile device shall allow a child protective services worker to create a contemporaneous, digital record of all components of the investigation; (3) The mobile device shall automatically and securely upload to the department’s server on a daily basis; (4) The operating system used in the mobile device shall be interoperable with existing department programs to allow relevant quality metrics to be extracted from the operating system into standard reports to be analyzed for systemic improvement; and (5) The mobile device shall be used on at least 70 percent of the cases in the pilot counties during the time period being studied. (d) The quality metrics shall be extracted on a monthly basis and analyzed by the secretary and members of his or her staff charged with systemic improvement of the child welfare system. (e) The pilot program shall terminate five years from the time the department fully implements the pilot program in two counties. (f) The department shall file annual reports beginning July 1, 2027, and July 1 annually thereafter, with the Legislative Oversight Commission on Health and Human Resources Accountability to provide a program update on the status of the pilot program, including metrics on the use of the technology. NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to require pilot project to evaluate the effectiveness of the usage of a mobile device interface for CPS investigations , reporting is required. This bill was recommended for introduction by the Joint Committee on Children and Families. Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added. Bill Status | Bill Tracking | Legacy WV Code | Bulletin Board | District Maps | Senate Roster | House Roster | Live | Blog | Jobs | Links | Home This Web site is maintained by the West Virginia Legislature's Office of Reference & Information. | Terms of Use | Webmaster | © 2026 West Virginia Legislature ** Print On Demand Name: Email: Phone: