VA HB1490

Establishes a centralized statewide hotline within the Department of Social Services to receive all reports and complaints of child abuse or neglect on a 24/7 basis, replacing the current system where local departments receive complaints directly.

Requires the Department to assess each complaint, determine its validity, and decide whether the local department should conduct an investigation or family assessment before forwarding valid complaints to local jurisdictions.

Mandates the Department to notify local attorneys for the Commonwealth and law-enforcement agencies within two hours of receiving invalid complaints involving child deaths, felonies, sexual abuse, abductions, or drug offenses involving children.

Shifts responsibility for publicizing the reporting telephone number and website from local departments to the state Department of Social Services.

Requires local departments to immediately forward any complaints they receive to the Department's toll-free child abuse and neglect hotline rather than processing them directly.