Requiring child protective services (“CPS”) workers to record, via audio, all interactions during CPS visits.

HB 4512 requires child protective services (CPS) workers to audio-record all interactions during investigations of suspected child abuse or neglect. This applies to every visit or interview with a person under investigation, though workers must obtain informed consent or a court order before recording in private settings like homes. The bill also mandates a face-to-face interview with the child within 14 days of investigation initiation to develop a safety plan. It directly affects CPS workers conducting investigations and families involved in ongoing abuse/neglect cases. The law amends existing West Virginia code to establish this recording requirement as a standard procedure.