The proposed bill establishes a statewide cold case task force within the West Virginia State Police, designated as the Leah Hickman Memorial Act. It creates an executive board composed of key law enforcement leaders, including the Superintendent of the State Police and representatives from the West Virginia Chiefs of Police Association and the West Virginia Sheriffs' Association. The bill clarifies that meetings of this board are not subject to open meetings laws and outlines the task force's purpose, which is to investigate and prosecute cold cases while allowing for interagency cooperation. The executive board is tasked with establishing policies and procedures for the task force, including staffing and operational guidelines.

Additionally, the bill creates a cold case task force fund within the state Treasury, which will be administered by the Superintendent of the State Police. This fund will consist of various sources of revenue, including fees, grants, and appropriations from the Legislature, and will be used exclusively for the operations of the cold case task force. Notably, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, the bill allows for expenditures from collections without requiring explicit legislative appropriation. The Director of the West Virginia Fusion Center is also mandated to cooperate with the executive board to provide necessary information for the task force's mission.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 15-10-8
Committee Substitute: 15-10-8