Permitting judges to refer parents to prosecuting attorney for making certain false allegations in child custody proceedings

Senate Bill 598 allows judges in West Virginia to refer parents who knowingly make false accusations of child abuse, neglect, or domestic violence during child custody proceedings to prosecutors. If a court finds an accusation was knowingly false, the judge may order the accuser to reimburse the accused parent for reasonable legal costs and refer the case to prosecutors to determine if criminal charges apply. The bill specifically targets deliberate falsehoods - not withdrawn or unproven reports - and applies to parents or household members making such false claims in custody cases. This policy change directly affects parents involved in custody disputes who make verified false allegations, aiming to address misuse of child protection systems.