WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION ENGROSSEDENROLLED House Bill 4749 ByB DelegatesYD Worrell,ELEGATESW Hite,ORRELL, Kimble,HIT, Hornby,IMBLE, andORNBY Heckert,AND [IntroducedHECKERT January[Passed 22,March 5, 2026;

referredin toeffect the90 Committeedays onfrom thepassage Judiciary](June Eng3, 2026)] Enr HB 4749 AAN BILLACT to amend and reenact §49-2-126 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to adding three additional rights that foster children and children in a kinship placement have in the foster child bill of rights including the right to have timely notice of a hearing that may have legal implications for a child over 13, the right to attend a hearing that may have legal implications for a child over the age of 13, and the right to have the outcome of any hearing that has legal implications for the child explained to them by their guardian ad litem or legal counsel.

EngEnr HB 4749 (7) The right, as appropriate to the child’s age and development, to be informed on any medication or chemical substance to be administered to the child;

EngEnr HB 4749 (19) The right to receive a copy of, and receive an explanation of, the rights set forth in this section from the child’s guardian ad litem, caseworker, and attorney;

(24) The right to have the outcome of any hearing pursuant to this chapter that has legal implications for the child explained by the child’s guardian ad litem or legal counsel;counsel.

On or before December 15, 20212021, and on or before December 15 of every year thereafter, the foster care ombudsman shall submit a written summary of the number and nature of reports received, EngEnr HB 4749 and investigations conducted in response to said reports, to the Joint Standing Committee on Government and Finance, the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals, and the Governor:

Enr HB 4749 The Clerk of the House of Delegates and the Clerk of the Senate hereby certify that the foregoing bill is correctly enrolled.

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Clerk of the House of Delegates ...............................................................

Clerk of the Senate Originated in the House of Delegates.

In effect 90 days from passage.

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Speaker of the House of Delegates ...............................................................

President of the Senate __________ The within is ................................................

this the...........................................

Day of ..........................................................................................................., 2026.

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Governor 5