WV HB4438

Requires schools and contractors to obtain detailed employment history from applicants for positions involving direct contact with children, including disclosure of any prior abuse or sexual misconduct investigations, disciplinary actions, or license suspensions

Mandates that former employers respond to employment verification requests within 20 days, providing information about any substantiated abuse allegations, misconduct investigations, or related employment separations

Allows provisional hiring for up to 90 days while background reviews are completed, provided applicants have submitted all required documentation and sworn they are not disqualified from employment

Prohibits school employees, contractors, and agencies from helping individuals known or suspected of sexual misconduct obtain new jobs in education, except when investigations have been closed without charges or the person was acquitted

Authorizes the Attorney General to assess civil penalties up to $10,000 for willful violations, and bars schools from contracting with independent contractors found to have violated these requirements