This bill proposes significant changes to the oversight structure of the West Virginia Fusion Center by terminating the existing Joint Oversight Committee as of June 30, 2025, and establishing a new Fusion Center Joint Oversight Committee effective July 1, 2025. The new committee will be responsible for overseeing the operations of the Fusion Center, ensuring compliance with applicable laws and policies, and conducting annual audits. The bill mandates that the Inspector General perform these audits and respond to inquiries from the committee, while also allowing the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House to summon Fusion Center employees for testimony during committee meetings.

Additionally, the bill outlines specific audit requirements and establishes that any violations of law or policy identified during the audits may lead to disciplinary actions against Fusion Center employees. The new committee will have the authority to inspect the Fusion Center, conduct confidential meetings, and issue subpoenas to compel testimony or the production of documents. The oversight audit will focus on ensuring compliance with rules and regulations, assessing operational systems, and protecting sensitive information. If any egregious misconduct is discovered during the audit, it may result in termination of employment and referral to law enforcement for further investigation.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 15A-12-3