WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE
2024 REGULAR SESSION
Introduced House Bill 5597
By Delegates Tully, Toney, Burkhammer, Maynor,
Holstein, Ferrell, Dittman, Kimble, Summers, Statler,
and Willis [Introduced February 12, 2024; Referred to the Committee on Education then the Judiciary]
 Intr HB 2024R3859
1 A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section,
2 designated §17C-5-2c, relating to requiring that any school bus driver charged with driving
3 under the influence with students present also be charged with child neglect for each
4 student.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
ARTICLE 5. SERIOUS TRAFFIC OFFENSES.
§17C-5-2c. School bus drivers charged with driving under the influence while students are present shall also be charged with child neglect.
1 Notwithstanding any provision of this code to the contrary, a person authorized by law to
2 operate a school bus, as that term is defined in §17C-1-7 of this code, who is charged with driving
3 under the influence of alcohol, controlled substances, or drugs under this article, while students
4 are present on the school bus, shall also be charged with child neglect creating a risk of injury by a
5 guardian or custodian pursuant to §61-8D-4 of this code.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to require that a school bus driver charged with driving under the influence with students present also be charged with child neglect for each student.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.
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Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 17C-5-2c