The bill amends and reenacts section 29B-1-2 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, and introduces a new section, 29B-1-8, which pertains to public records and their disclosure. The amendments include the deletion of several definitions related to public records, such as "Custodian," "Law-enforcement officer," "Person," "Public body," "Public record," "Writing," and "Publicly-administered utility enterprise." These deletions streamline the definitions used in the context of public records, potentially clarifying the scope and application of the law.

Additionally, the new section 29B-1-8 establishes an exemption for the Legislative branch from the requirements of public records disclosure, provided that it adopts its own rules governing such disclosures. This change allows the Legislative branch to create its own framework for handling public records, which may differ from the general provisions applicable to other public bodies.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 29B-1-2, 29B-1-8
Engrossed Version: 29B-1-2, 29B-1-8