WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE

2026 REGULAR SESSION

ENROLLED

Committee Substitute for

House Bill 4022

By Delegates Hanshaw (Mr. Speaker) and Hornbuckle
(By Request of the Executive)

[Passed March 6, 2026; in effect from passage]

AN ACT to amend and reenact §49-2-102 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to child protective services workers; allocating child protective service workers; stationing of child protective service workers; and requiring a report.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 2. STATE RESPONSIBILITIES FOR CHILDREN.

§49-2-102. Staffing Allocation for Child Protective Services Workers.

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this code to the contrary, the commissioner shall allocate and station Child Protective Services workers by county based on population, referrals, and average caseload. The county population shall be based on the United States Census. The commissioner may adjust the allocation and station of Child Protective Services workers among counties as necessary based on immediate needs of each county, as demonstrated by the present referrals and caseloads.

(b) The bureau shall report the allocation to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Health and Human Resources Accountability annually by July 1. The report shall include, but is not limited to:

(1) Information regarding each allocation change that occurred in the 12 months immediately preceding July 1 and persisted for more than three weeks; and

(2) A brief explanation justifying each allocation change.

The Clerk of the House of Delegates and the Clerk of the Senate hereby certify that the foregoing bill is correctly enrolled.

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Clerk of the House of Delegates

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Clerk of the Senate

Originated in the House of Delegates.

In effect from passage.

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Speaker of the House of Delegates

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President of the Senate

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The within is ................................................ this the...........................................

Day of ..........................................................................................................., 2026.

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Governor