HB 4390: Relating to the temporary payment to a kinship parent of a subsidy equal to that of a foster parent - West Virginia

Committee Substitute → Committee Substitute for the Committee Substitute · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was revised to streamline the requirements for kinship parents to receive a temporary foster care subsidy. The changes remove the obligation for kinship parents to submit their own background checks, instead requiring the Department of Human Services to verify that checks have been completed and are satisfactory. The text also clarifies that the temporary subsidy stops if certification is not achieved within six months and adds a specific authorization for the Department to conduct criminal history checks.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on providing temporary financial assistance to kinship parents, but the eligibility criteria have been simplified by shifting the background check responsibility from the individual to the state agency.

ELIGIBILITY

Removed the requirement for the kinship parent to personally submit a background check; now the Department must verify that checks were submitted and are satisfactory.

Consolidated the initial conditions for eligibility into three clear requirements: submission of checks, Department satisfaction with results, and compliance with home safety screenings.

REQUIREMENT

Added explicit authority for the Department of Human Services to conduct state and national criminal history record checks, including fingerprinting and authorizing law enforcement access to records.

Clarified that the temporary subsidy ceases if the kinship parent is unable or unwilling to become certified after six months.

Updated the cost provision to specify that the kinship parent pays for fingerprinting and criminal history record checks.

Enrolled Version → Committee Substitute · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill text was converted from a formal legislative document format to a website display format, resulting in the removal of official signatures, page numbers, and legal certification language. Substantively, the policy content was modified to renumber the section from §49-2-127b to §49-2-815 and restructure the conditions for eligibility, shifting from a list of requirements to a mix of actions and departmental duties within the same clauses. The core policy of providing a temporary foster-parent-level subsidy to kinship parents for up to six months while they seek certification remains intact.

Scope change

The bill's scope is unchanged; it still applies to kinship parents in West Virginia seeking to become certified foster parents.

TECHNICAL

The section number was changed from §49-2-127b to §49-2-815.

All official signatures, page headers/footers, and legal certification text were removed as the text was converted to a web page view.

REQUIREMENT

The structure of eligibility conditions was altered by merging the Department's duty to provide agency lists into the list of conditions for receiving the subsidy, whereas the original version listed this as a separate administrative requirement.

Engrossed Committee Substitute for the Committee Substitute → Enrolled Version · 3 edits · Apr 1, 2026

MINOR

The bill text was converted from a draft committee version to the final enrolled version, adding standard legislative formatting, signatures, and official dates. A substantive new requirement was added stating that kinship parents must pay the actual costs for fingerprinting and criminal background checks, a financial obligation not present in the previous draft.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on providing temporary foster care subsidy payments to kinship parents, but the financial responsibility for background screening fees has shifted to the kinship parent.

REQUIREMENT

Added a new subsection requiring kinship parents to pay the actual costs for fingerprinting and criminal history record checks.

TECHNICAL

Added standard enrolled bill elements including certification signatures, official dates, and state legislature website navigation text.

Changed the document title from 'Engrossed Committee Substitute' to 'Enrolled Version - Final Version'.

Introduced Version → Engrossed Committee Substitute for the Committee Substitute · 5 edits · Mar 11, 2026

MODERATE

The bill was amended to expand its scope by adding a new section (§49-2-127b) instead of modifying an existing one, and to clarify the legal requirements for kinship parents receiving temporary foster-level subsidies. The changes strengthen eligibility criteria by explicitly requiring state and national criminal history checks and home safety screenings, while also establishing strict rules on who can access these background check records and confirming that the kinship parent must pay for the fingerprinting costs.

Scope change

The bill's scope changed from amending an existing section (§49-2-815) to adding a completely new section (§49-2-127b), effectively creating a distinct legal provision for this subsidy program.

REQUIREMENT

Added explicit requirements for state and national criminal history record checks and home safety screenings as conditions for receiving the subsidy.

Added a new subsection authorizing the Department to conduct background checks and specifying that the kinship parent must pay the actual costs of fingerprinting and record checks.

ENFORCEMENT

Added strict limitations on who can receive the results of criminal history checks, restricting access to the subject, the subject with written authorization, or pursuant to a court order.

DEFINITION

Added a provision clarifying that criminal history record check results are not public records under state law.

TECHNICAL

Changed the section number from §49-2-815 to §49-2-127b and updated the text to refer to 'payment amount' rather than 'subsidy amount' for consistency.

Relating to the temporary payment to a kinship parent of a subsidy equal to that of a foster parent

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