West Virginia § 61-8F-6 Specific directives to enhance the safety of disabled children

West Virginia Statutes

§ 61-8F-6 — Specific directives to enhance the safety of disabled children

West Virginia § 61-8F-6

Ch. 61CRIMES AND THEIR PUNISHMENT

Art. 8FSPECIAL PROTECTIONS FOR DISABLED CHILDREN ACT OF 2022

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Bluebook

W. Va. Code § 61-8F-6 (2026).

Text

(a)The West Virginia Department of Education in collaboration with the Secretary of Human Services shall:

(1)On or before January 1, 2023, develop, produce, and disseminate an eight-hour education program for people employed in or to be employed in the care, housing, and education of disabled children as well as their supervisory personnel and administrators. The program shall include, but not be limited to, the legal duties of persons so employed, the behavioral characteristics associated with different disabling conditions, symptoms of disabling conditions , appropriate interventions necessary to support a child in a particular setting, and the process of mandatory reporting of abuse. Successful completion of the program shall be mandatory for state, county, and municipal employees en

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(a) The West Virginia Department of Education in collaboration with the Secretary of Human Services shall:

(1) On or before January 1, 2023, develop, produce, and disseminate an eight-hour education program for people employed in or to be employed in the care, housing, and education of disabled children as well as their supervisory personnel and administrators. The program shall include, but not be limited to, the legal duties of persons so employed, the behavioral characteristics associated with different disabling conditions, symptoms of disabling conditions , appropriate interventions necessary to support a child in a particular setting, and the process of mandatory reporting of abuse. Successful completion of the program shall be mandatory for state, county, and municipal employees engaged in the care, housing, and education of disabled children as well as their supervisory personnel and administrators upon employment and every three years after; and

(2) On or before January 1, 2023, investigate the availability and implementation cost of a program for public schools and government operated programs for disabled children which allows parents, guardians, and custodians to remotely view classrooms and other areas where disabled children are taught, housed, or cared for and provide copies of the findings and proposals to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Delegates prior to the first day of the 2023 Regular Session of the Legislature.

(3) To the extent practicable the program shall consider and include input from family members and caregiving of disabled children.

(b) On or before January 1, 2023, the West Virginia Prosecuting Attorney's Institute in collaboration with the Law Enforcement Professional Standards subcommittee on the Governor’s Committee on Crime Delinquency and Correction shall develop a three-hour mandatory educational program for prosecuting attorneys and law enforcement officers that offers education:

(1) As to the provisions of this article; and

(2) In the investigation and prosecution of crimes against disabled children including mandatory reporting of all abuse.

(3) To the extent practicable the program shall consider and include input from family members and caregiving of disabled children.

(c) The State Board of Education shall create a database which identifies school employees who are under active investigation for misconduct towards children into which county boards of education shall report and review when considering employing a person with previous experience in the education system.