This bill proposes the establishment of a Domestic Violence Offender Registry in West Virginia, which will be maintained by the State Police. The registry will include information such as the offender's name, date of birth, conviction date, and a current photograph, but will not disclose personal identifiers like addresses or social security numbers. Individuals convicted of specific domestic violence offenses against intimate partners will be required to register, with the court mandated to forward conviction details to the State Police within seven days. A registration fee of $150 will be imposed, with portions allocated to the Family Court Fund and the Domestic Violence Legal Services Fund.

The bill outlines the conditions under which offenders can be removed from the registry, specifying timeframes based on the number of prior convictions. It clarifies that the registry applies only to offenses occurring after July 1, 2026, while allowing for prior convictions to influence registration requirements. Additionally, it creates the Victims of Domestic Violence Fund to support the operations of the registry, funded through various sources including registration fees. The legislation also provides civil immunity to public officials and agencies involved in the implementation of the registry, except in cases of gross negligence or bad faith.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 15-17-1, 15-17-2, 15-17-3, 15-17-4, 15-17-5, 15-17-6, 15-17-7, 15-17-8, 15-17-9, 15-17-10, 15-17-11, 15-17-12
Committee Substitute: 15-17-1, 15-17-2
Engrossed Committee Substitute: 15-17-1, 15-17-2