(1) As used in this section, "social service worker" means a social worker employed by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Department for Community Based Services, to provide direct casework services in foster care, child protection, juvenile services, or adult protection.
(2) As used in this section, "active case" includes the total number of cases for which the family service worker has responsibility.
(3) The monthly statewide caseload average for social service workers in the area of foster care, child protection, juvenile services, or adult protection shall not exceed twenty-five (25) active cases.
(4) Nothing in this section shall prevent the department or a social service worker from handling emergencies to carry out statutory mandates. If the monthly regional, county, or statewide caseload average for social service workers exceeds twenty- five (25) active cases for ninety (90) consecutive days, the department shall report the fact to the Governor and to the Legislative Research Commission together with a description of the factors contributing thereto and shall make recommendations related thereto. The report shall include, by county and region, social service worker caseload averages; the number of established social service worker positions; and the number of vacant social service worker positions.