WV HB5208

Requires all Child Protective Services testimony, reports, and recommendations to be sworn under oath and subject to perjury penalties, with all proceedings affecting parental rights recorded in a court of record for appeal purposes

Prohibits child removal without a court order except in cases of immediate physical danger, eliminating administrative or "safety plan" removals by CPS

Establishes tiered burden of proof standards: probable cause for emergency removal, clear and convincing evidence for adjudication, and proof beyond a reasonable doubt for termination of parental rights

Mandates immediate appointment of legal counsel for parents upon any child removal and prohibits poverty-related conditions from constituting abuse or neglect

Creates criminal penalties and civil liability for CPS misconduct, requires quarterly public reporting of CPS activities, and takes effect July 1, 2027