The proposed bill aims to establish the "Police Partnering With Communities Act" in West Virginia, which includes legislative findings emphasizing the connection between violence and economically disadvantaged neighborhoods. It defines "distressed areas" as low-income regions with higher-than-average crime rates, specifically targeting census tracts where the individual poverty rate is at least 20% or the median family income is no greater than 80% of the area median. The bill highlights the importance of community engagement in violence mitigation and encourages police officers to reside in these distressed areas to foster better relationships with the communities they serve.

Additionally, the bill establishes the "Police Partnering With Communities Fund" within the West Virginia State Treasurer's office. This fund is intended to reimburse police officers for their housing costs when they choose to live in defined distressed areas. To qualify for reimbursement, officers must provide proof of residency and employment with a local police department. The bill also outlines that the fund's financial support will be detailed in a separate appropriations bill and sets an effective date of July 1, 2025, for the new provisions.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 30-29-15