WV HB2377

Requires child abuse and neglect reports to be made to the Bureau for Social Services via a 24-hour hotline or web-based system that sends reports to a live person immediately, with both systems providing reporters a specific case identifier upon submission

Grants the Foster Care Ombudsman access to confidential child abuse and neglect records, including the identity of persons making complaints, when acting in official duties

Creates the Critical Incident Review Team under the Office of Inspector General to review fatalities and near fatalities of children in state custody or with known cases in the child welfare system, with required meetings within 10 days of such incidents

Mandates the Department of Human Services update the child welfare data dashboard with child fatality and near fatality information within 48 hours of an incident, including county, date, sex, age, and race/ethnicity of the child

Requires the Critical Incident Review Team to submit initial reports within 30 days of a fatality or near fatality to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Health and Human Resources Accountability, with updated reports every 90 days and an annual final report by December 1