Related bills that would allow the Commissioner of Social Services to create and enforce corrective action plans for local departments and centralize child protective services intake at the state level emerged from conference committees and received General Assembly approval in the final days of the 2026 regular session.
As passed by the General Assembly, HB 1490 (Tran) and SB 640 (Pillion) contain the following provisions regarding centralized intake:
- Once the bills’ provisions are fully implemented, the Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) would be responsible for establishing and maintaining a 24/7 hotline to receive reports or complaints of child abuse and neglect and determining the validity of these reports. Under current law, validity determinations are the responsibility of local departments of social services.
- Under the new process, VDSS would refer valid complaints to local departments of social services for an investigation or a family assessment.
- The State Board of Social Services would be required to promulgate regulations to implement the legislation by July 1, 2027; VDSS would implement centralized intake through a phased process that would begin July 1, 2028, and conclude July 1, 2030.
- As part of the implementation of the bills, VDSS is required to contract with a third party for a comprehensive study and review of the screening process for child protective services complaints, which would also identify best practices and make recommendations for the most effective intake system. The bills also direct VDSS to convene a stakeholder workgroup to evaluate the results and recommendations of this study. A report would be due by December 1, 2026.
- The State Board of Social Services is also required to promulgate regulations that require local departments to respond to valid reports of suspected abuse and neglect of a child under the age of three within 24 hours of receipt; current law requires this expedited response for children under the age of two.
As passed by the General Assembly, HB 1366 (Callsen) and SB 640 (Pillion) contain the following provisions regarding state oversight of local departments, which are similar to existing authority granted to the Commissioner of Social Services to establish corrective action plans for the provision of foster care services:
- The state Commissioner of Social Services would have the authority to create and enforce a corrective action plan for any local board or local department of social services that fails to administer public assistance, social services, or child welfare programs in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, or acts or fails to act in a manner that poses a substantial risk to the health, safety, or well-being of a child or adult.
- The Commissioner must provide advance written notice of intent to implement a corrective action plan to the chair of the state Board of Social Services, chair of the local board of social services, and local director, and must hold a hearing upon request about whether a corrective action plan is appropriate.
- If the local board fails to comply with the corrective action plan, the Commissioner would have authority to temporarily assume control of the local board’s operations to provide public assistance, social services, and child welfare services. The Commissioner would also be empowered to withhold state funds until the local board complies with the corrective action plan. Control over local operations would be returned upon the Commissioner’s determination that the local board has made necessary adjustments to provide services in compliance with law.
- The bills also provide explicit authority for the Commissioner to use state staff or contract with private entities to assist local departments when they request help in administering programs.
- The bills require the Secretary of Health and Human Resources to convene a Social Services Task Force to review the state’s approach to benefits application and eligibility determination, and require VDSS to hire a third party to review the current funding sources for child welfare, child protective services, benefits, and administration, as well as the local match and the methodology used to allocate administrative funds. A report with recommendations and an implementation plan is due by November 1, 2026.
VACo Contact: Katie Boyle