This bill aims to amend the Code of West Virginia by introducing a new section, 62-1D-3a, which establishes an expectation of privacy for members of the West Virginia Legislature within their private offices. It stipulates that legislators have a reasonable expectation of privacy in their offices located in the State Capitol or any official legislative space. The bill makes it unlawful for any individual, including staff, visitors, and journalists, to record or intercept communications within a legislator's office without prior consent. It also prohibits the secret installation of recording devices and the dissemination of unlawfully obtained recordings.

However, the bill outlines exceptions to these prohibitions, including legislative security measures, recordings made with the legislator's consent, and lawfully authorized surveillance under a valid court order. Violations of this section are classified as felonies, with penalties including imprisonment for up to five years and/or fines up to $10,000. Overall, the bill seeks to enhance privacy protections for legislators and enforce two-party consent in legislative offices.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 62-1D-3a