Senate 1036

WEST virginia legislature

2026 regular session

Committee Substitute

for

Senate Bill 1036

By Senators Helton and Garcia

[Reported March 2, 2026, from the Committee on Finance]

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding a new article, designated §49-13-1, relating to creating the Sustainable Child-Serving Workforce and Foster Care Modernization Act; and providing for foster care rate modernization and workforce stabilization.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 13. Sustainable Child-Serving Workforce and Foster Care Modernization ACT.

§49-13-1. Foster care rate modernization and workforce stabilization.

(a) The Department of Human Services, Bureau for Social Services, shall rebase basic, special, and therapeutic foster care rates using current cost data for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026.

(b) Therapeutic foster care and child-placing agency administrative rates shall be adjusted to reflect current costs and include incentive payments for retention and placement stability.