This bill aims to amend and reenact sections of the Code of West Virginia to enhance penalties for crimes against law enforcement, firefighters, governmental representatives, health care providers, utility workers, correctional employees, and emergency medical service personnel. It introduces a felony offense for attacking, hindering, or obstructing a firefighter or emergency equipment, with penalties including confinement in a state correctional facility for one to ten years, or a fine of up to $1,000. Additionally, it reclassifies certain offenses from misdemeanors to felonies and increases the fines and confinement periods for various assaults against these personnel.

Key changes include increasing the minimum confinement for malicious assault from three to six years and for unlawful assault from two to four years. The bill also raises the maximum confinement for battery from one year to two years and establishes higher fines for subsequent offenses. Furthermore, it specifies that individuals convicted of crimes against correctional employees cannot have their sentences run concurrently with other sentences they are serving. Overall, the bill seeks to provide stronger legal protections and consequences for those who commit crimes against individuals serving in these critical roles.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 29-3A-4, 61-2-10b