Prohibit a child in the custody of the state from placement in facility not approved by Department of Human Services

HB 5042 prohibits placing children under state custody (such as in foster care or juvenile justice) in facilities not approved by West Virginia's Department of Human Services (DHS). The bill requires DHS to maintain and annually update a public list of approved out-of-state facilities, including each facility's location and specialty (e.g., mental health care). Exceptions for unapproved facilities are only permitted in "extraordinary circumstances" with DHS Secretary approval. This law directly affects state child welfare systems, DHS oversight, and facilities seeking to house children in state care.