WV HB4964

Establishes a phased Community-Based Child Welfare system beginning in Berkeley County, Jefferson County, and Bureau for Social Services Region IV, with any expansion requiring legislative authorization

Maintains exclusive state authority for Child Protective Services functions including intake, investigations, safety assessments, emergency custody decisions, and court responsibility during investigations

Transfers ongoing case management, service coordination, and court-related functions to contracted nonprofit community-based providers after CPS investigations are completed

Implements a case-rate payment model with shared-risk provisions where providers may retain savings from improved outcomes but assume responsibility for costs exceeding the case rate within defined risk corridors

Requires the department to submit an evaluation report to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance within 24 months covering child safety outcomes, fiscal performance, provider capacity, and expansion recommendations