SB438

West Virginia SB438 expands circumstances for terminating parental rights and sets conditions for improvement periods.

West Virginia SB438 amends the Code of West Virginia to increase circumstances where the Department of Human Services must seek termination of parental rights. This includes situations where a child has been in foster care, kinship placement, or a residential facility for more than fifteen months, or if a parent has not contacted their child for 18 consecutive months. The bill also expands the conditions under which improvement periods can be granted, such as when a child is determined to be abused or neglected, or when a parent has committed certain crimes against their child.