Establishing community-based child welfare system program

Initial implementation counties changed from Berkeley, Jefferson, and Region IV to Berkeley, Jefferson, Summers, Raleigh, Fayette, and Monroe Counties. Full state expansion is now mandated for July 1, 2029 absent contrary legislation.

CPS authority protection strengthened: added 'or otherwise modify' to the prohibition on delegating or privatizing Child Protective Services investigative authority, closing a potential gap in the original language.

Specific dates added: Bureau must request bids by January 1, 2027; contract awarded by July 1, 2027; implementation plan submitted to Legislative Oversight Commission by December 1, 2026; initial implementation begins on or before January 1, 2028.

Evaluation report deadline shortened from 18 months to 12 months after implementation, with the report going to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance.

The bill now requires the Bureau to contract with exactly one qualified private provider as lead or managing agency per region. The introduced version allowed multiple providers to operate concurrently without a designated lead entity and included a case assignment methodology section promoting capacity balancing and avoiding monopolization, all of which was removed.

Workforce and practice standards section simplified: removed requirements for training aligned with department standards and language promoting workforce stability and professional judgment. Retained only function/outcome definition and caseload expectations.

Case transfer trigger expanded: cases now transfer to providers when removal of the child is required, not only when ongoing court supervision or services are needed. Court-related obligations timing clarified as beginning after the preliminary hearing rather than after case opening.

New subsection (l) requires the Bureau to propose rules for legislative approval under chapter 29A and to promulgate emergency rules to effectuate the January 1, 2028 implementation date.

Provider civil liability protection expanded: 'intentional deception' added as an exception alongside gross negligence and willful misconduct. The introduced version only excluded gross negligence or willful misconduct.

Provider qualification standard changed from 'maintain sufficient staffing and local presence to serve assigned cases' to the less prescriptive 'demonstrate an ability to serve assigned cases.'