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WV HB4795

Bill

Official Source

Status

Introduced

1/23/2026

Primary Sponsor

Jonathan Pinson

Click for details

Origin

House of Delegates

2026 Regular Session

AI Summary

  • Reduces the protected placement period from 18 consecutive months to 6 consecutive months before a foster care arrangement gains additional termination protections
  • Removes sibling reunification as a standalone reason for terminating a protected foster care placement, instead requiring it to meet the general "best interest of the child" standard under subsection (b)
  • Changes sibling reunification language from mandatory ("shall") to permissive ("may"), giving the department discretion rather than requiring placement with siblings
  • Requires the department to notify foster or adoptive parents of siblings within 10 days when a child enters foster care, rather than having no specified timeframe
  • Specifies that children may only be returned to "biological" parents as grounds for terminating a protected foster placement, clarifying existing language

Legislative Description

Relating to changing circumstances for when a child may be removed from a foster home.

Health

Last Action

To House Health and Human Resources

1/23/2026

Committee Referrals

Health & Human Resources1/23/2026

Full Bill Text

No bill text available