This bill aims to amend West Virginia Code §15-10-5 to expand the categories of federal law-enforcement officers who are granted peace-keeping authority within the state. The proposed changes include the addition of several new categories of federal officers who are authorized to enforce state laws under specific circumstances, such as when requested by state or local law enforcement or when witnessing a felony. The new categories include special agents from the Diplomatic Security Service, Coast Guard, Customs and Border Protection, Department of Defense, Federal Protective Service, Federal Bureau of Prisons, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, among others.

Additionally, the bill removes the reference to Federal Air Marshals from the list of eligible officers, while maintaining the overall structure of the law that outlines the conditions under which federal officers can exercise their enforcement authority. The bill emphasizes that these federal officers will have the same legal authority and immunities as state or local law-enforcement officers when acting under this provision, ensuring a collaborative approach to law enforcement in West Virginia.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 15-10-5