WV HB5189

Establishes a pilot program in two West Virginia counties beginning October 1, 2027, requiring child protective services workers to use mobile devices (computers or tablets) during child abuse and neglect investigations

Mobile devices must have operating systems customized for child welfare casework, enabling workers to create contemporaneous digital records that automatically and securely upload to department servers daily

Requires the mobile devices to be used on at least 70% of cases in pilot counties, with the system being interoperable with existing department programs for quality metrics extraction

Pilot program will run for five years from full implementation, with the Department of Human Services selecting which counties participate

Annual reports due to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Health and Human Resources Accountability starting July 1, 2028, providing program updates and technology usage metrics