House Bill 2021 aims to amend the existing law regarding the appointment and qualifications of bailiffs in West Virginia. The bill introduces a new provision that grants the Sheriff of the county where the bailiff will serve the authority to make final decisions on the qualifications and appropriateness of specific law enforcement officers for the bailiff position. This includes determining whether an officer meets the necessary requirements and is the right choice for the role, either individually or collectively.

Additionally, the bill maintains the structure of the court security board, which is responsible for overseeing the court security fund and consists of various appointed members from the judicial and law enforcement communities. The board is tasked with compiling a list of certified law enforcement officers eligible to serve as bailiffs, which will be made available to county sheriffs for recruitment purposes. Overall, the bill seeks to streamline the process of appointing bailiffs by centralizing the approval authority with the county sheriff.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 51-3-15