SB 546 — Relating to clothing and necessity allowance

WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION INTERIMCommittee IntroducedSubstitute BILLfor FISCAL Senate Bill 546 NOTE By Senators Deeds, Grady, M.

Maynard, Roberts, and TarrRucker [Introduced[Reported January 20,28, 2026;2026, from the Committee on Health and Human Resources] INTERIM BILL CS for SB 546 A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding a new article, designated §49-13-101, §49-13-102, §49-13-103, and §49-13-104, relating to clothing and necessity allowance;

referred to the Committee on Health and Human Resources;

and then to the Committee on Finance] Intr SB 546 2026R3100S 2026R3087H A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding a new article, designated §49-13-101, §49-13-102, §49-13-103, and §49-13-104, relating to clothing and necessity allowance;

and setting forth the amountamount, form, and formtime frame of payment.

1 IntrCS for SB 546 2026R3100S 2026R3087H "Placement provider" means a foster parent, kinship/relative provider, or residential care provider.

(a) At the time of initial placement, a child shall be assessed, includingincluding, but not limited toto, a review of the child’s current clothing, necessities, and inventory, by the placement provider in conjunction with the child welfare worker to determine if:

2 IntrCS for SB 546 2026R3100S 2026R3087H (b) The child’s supplemental clothing allowance may be issued for an amount up to, and not to exceed, $175 per each supplement allowance.

or (3) The third option is to provide reimbursement to a placement provider who purchases clothing allowance items using their own funds.

(1) The instant card shall be issued to the placement provider or re-loaded with funding within 48 hours of the child being placed with the placement provider.provider;

(2) The instant card may be used online or in any store that accepts an electronic payment transaction.transaction;

and (3) The department shall create and adopt a policy for the use of the instant card which shall be provided to the placement provider upon issuance of the card, which shall includeinclude, but not be limited toto, an explanation of proper purchases that may be made with the instant card, an explanation of how and when the card can be re-loaded, and the need to keep receipts for reconciliation of purchases.

(f) With respect to demand payment or reimbursement to the placement provider (this 3 IntrCS for SB 546 2026R3100S 2026R3087H method is not recommended and should only be used as a last resort);resort):

(1) If it is decided that the kinship/relative placement provider is going to purchase the child’s clothing or approved necessities using their own funds with the expectation of reimbursement from the department, then a receipt from the kinship/relative provider shall be supplied to the child welfare worker in order to obtain reimbursement;reimbursement which payment shall be made by the department within 30 days of receipt of an invoice;

or (2) If a foster care provider chooses to purchase clothing or approved necessities, then all receipts for clothing items or approved necessities from the foster care provider shall be provided to their child placing agency in order for the child placing agency to invoice the department for reimbursement.reimbursement which payment shall be made by the department within 30 days of receipt of an invoice.