Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE
REGULAR SESSION
                Introduced House Bill 4273
               By Delegate Steele [Introduced January 10, 2024; Referred to
       the Committee on the Judiciary ]
     Intr. HB                                                                             2024R1934
  A BILL to repeal §55-9-1, §55-9-2, and §55-9-3 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; to
         repeal §61-1-4, §61-1-5, §61-1-7, §61-1-8, §61-1-9, §61-2-5a, §61-2-9a, §61-2-9b, §61-2-
         9c, §61-2-9d, §61-2-10a, §61-2-10b, §61-2-14a, §61-2-14b, §61-2-14c, §61-2-14d, §61-2-
         14e, §61-2-14f, §61-2-14g, §61-2-14h, §61-2-15a, §61-2-16a, §61-2-26, §61-2-27, §61-2-
         27a, §61-2-28, §61-2-29, §61-2-29a, §61-2-29b, §61-2-30, §61-3-20a, §61-3-22a, §61-3-
         24a, §61-3-24b, §61-3-24c, §61-3-24d, §61-3-24e, §61-3-24f, §61-3-24g, §61-3-24h, §61-
         3-39, §61-3-39a, §61-3-39b, §61-3-39c, §61-3-39d, §61-3-39e, §61-3-39f, §61-3-39g,
         §61-3-39h, §61-3-39i, §61-3-39j, §61-3-39k, §61-3-39m, §61-3-39n, §61-3-39o, §61-3-
         39p, §61-3-39q, §61-3-40, §61-3-41, §61-3-42, §61-3-43, §61-3-44, §61-3-45, §61-3-45a,
        §61-3-46, §61-3-47, §61-3-48, §61-3-48a, §61-3-49, §61-3-49a, §61-3-49b, §61-3-50,
        §61-3-51, §61-3-52, §61-3-53, §61-3-54, §61-3-55, §61-3-56, §61-3-57, §61-3-58, §61-3-
        59, §61-3A-4a, §61-3C-14a, §61-3C-14b, §61-3C-14c, §61-3E-13, §61-5-12a, §61-5-12b,
        §61-5-25a, §61-5-27a, §61-5-28, §61-5-29, §61-6-1a, §61-6-1b, §61-6-14a, §61-6-18,
        §61-6-19, §61-6-20, §61-6-21, §61-6-22, §61-6-23, §61-6-24, §61-6-25; §61-7-4a, §61-7-
        6a, §61-7-11a, §61-7-15a, §61-8-9a, §61-8-19a, §61-8-19b, §61-8-19c, §61-8-27a, §61-8-
        28, §61-8-28a, §61-8-29, §61-8-30, §61-8-31, §61-8C-3a, §61-8C-3b, §61-8D-4a, §61-8D-
        5a, §61-8E-1, §61-8E-2, §61-8E-3, §61-9-9, §61-9-10, §61-9-11, §61-10-11a, §61-10-11b,
        §61-10-30, §61-10-31, §61-10-32, §61-10-33, §61-10-34, §61-11-1a, §61-11-8a, §61-11-
        22a, §61-11-26a, §61-11-26b and §61-11A-9 of said code; to amend and reenact §15-12-8
        of said code; to amend and reenact §19-1A-3b of said code; to amend and reenact §29-22-
        12 of said code; to amend and reenact §61-1-1, §61-1-2, §61-1-3 of said code; to amend
        and reenact §61-2-1, §61-2-2, §61-2-3, §61-2-4, §61-2-5, §61-2-6, §61-2-7, §61-2-8, §61-
        2-9, §61-2-10, §61-2-11, §61-2-12, §61-2-13, §61-2-14, §61-2-15, and §61-2-16 of said
        code; to amend and reenact §61-3-1, §61-3-2, §61-3-3, §61-3-4, §61-3-5, §61-3-6, §61-3-
        7, §61-3-8, §61-3-11, §61-3-12, §61-3-13, §61-3-14, §61-3-15, §61-3-16, §61-3-18, §61-3-
        19, §61-3-20, §61-3-21, §61-3-22, §61-3-23, §61-3-24, §61-3-25, §61-3-26, §61-3-27,
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     Intr. HB                                                                           2024R1934
        §61-3-28, §61-3-29, §61-3-30, §61-3-31, §61-3-32, §61-3-33, §61-3-34, §61-3-35, §61-3-
        36, §61-3-37, and §61-3-38 of said code; to amend and reenact §61-3A-3 and §61-3A-7 of
        said code; to amend and reenact §61-3B-2, §61-3B-3, §61-3B-4, §61-3B-5, §61-3B-6, and
        §61-3B-7 of said code; to amend and reenact §61-3C-2, §61-3C-3, §61-3C-4, §61-3C-5,
        §61-3C-6, §61-3C-7, §61-3C-8, §61-3C-9, §61-3C-10, §61-3C-11, §61-3C-12, §61-3C-13,
        §61-3C-14, §61-3C-15, §61-3C-16, §61-3C-17, §61-3C-18, §61-3C-19, §61-3C-20, §61-
        3C-21 of said code; to amend and reenact §61-3D-2 and §61-3D-3 of said code; to amend
        and reenact §61-3E-1, §61-3E-3, §61-3E-4, §61-3E-5, §61-3E-6, §61-3E-7, §61-3E-8,
        §61-3E-9, §61-3E-10, and §61-3E-12 of said code; to amend and reenact §61-4-1, §61-4-
        2, §61-4-3, §61-4-4, §61-4-5, §61-4-6, §61-4-7, §61-4-8, and §61-4-9 of said code; to
        amend and reenact §61-5-1, §61-5-2, §61-5-3, §61-5-4, §61-5-5, §61-5-6, §61-5-7, §61-5-
        8, §61-5-9, §61-5-10, §61-5-11, §61-5-12, §61-5-13, §61-5-14, §61-5-15, §61-5-16, §61-5-
        17, §61-5-18, §61-5-19, §61-5-20, §61-5-21, §61-5-22, §61-5-23, §61-5-24, §61-5-25,
        §61-5-26, and §61-5-27 of said code; to amend and reenact §61-5A-9 of said code; to
        amend and reenact §61-6-1, §61-6-2, §61-6-3, §61-6-6, §61-6-7, §61-6-8, §61-6-9, §61-6-
        10, §61-6-11, §61-6-12, §61-6-13, §61-6-14, §61-6-15, §61-6-16, and §61-6-17 of said
        code; to amend and reenact §61-7-2, §61-7-3, §61-7-4, §61-7-5, §61-7-6, §61-7-7, §61-7-
        8, §61-7-9, §61-7-10, §61-7-11, §61-7-12, §61-7-14, §61-7-15, §61-7-16, and §61-7-17 of
        said code; to amend and reenact §61-8-1, §61-8-2, §61-8-5, §61-8-6, §61-8-7, §61-8-8,
        §61-8-9, §61-8-10, §61-8-11, §61-8-12, §61-8-14, §61-8-15, §61-8-16, §61-8-19, §61-8-
        21, §61-8-20, §61-8-22, §61-8-23, §61-8-25, §61-8-26, and §61-8-27 of said code; to
        amend and reenact §61-8A-1, §61-8A-2, §61-8A-4, and §61-8A-5 of said code; to amend
        and reenact §61-8B-3, §61-8B-4, §61-8B-5, §61-8B-7, §61-8B-8, §61-8B-9, §61-8B-9b,
        §61-8B-10, §61-8B-11, §61-8B-11a, §61-8B-12, §61-8B-13, §61-8B-14, §61-8B-15, §61-
        8B-16, §61-8B-17, and §61-8B-18 of said code; to amend and reenact §61-8C-1, §61-8C-
        2, and §61-8C-3 of said code; to amend and reenact §61-8D-1, §61-8D-2, §61-8D-2a, §61-
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     Intr. HB                                                                           2024R1934
        8D-3, §61-8D-3a, §61-8D-4, §61-8D-4a, §61-8D-5, §61-8D-6, §61-8D-7, §61-8D-8, §61-
        8D-9, and §61-8D-10 of said code; to amend and reenact §61-9-1, §61-9-2, §61-9-3, §61-
        9-4, §61-9-5, §61-9-6, §61-9-7, and §61-9-8 of said code; to amend and reenact §61-10-1,
        §61-10-2, §61-10-3, §61-10-4, §61-10-5, §61-10-6, §61-10-7, §61-10-8, §61-10-9, §61-10-
        10, §61-10-11, §61-10-12, §61-10-13, §61-10-14, §61-10-15, §61-10-16, §61-10-17, §61-
        10-19, §61-10-20, §61-10-22, and §61-10-23 of said code; to amend and reenact §61-11-
        1, §61-11-1a, §61-11-3, §61-11-4, §61-11-5, §61-11-6, §61-11-7, §61-11-8, §61-11-18,
        §61-11-20, §61-11-21, and §61-11-22 of said code; to amend and reenact §61-11A-7 and
        §61-11A-8 of said code; to amend and reenact §61-12-8, §61-12-9, and §61-12-13 of said
        code; to amend and reenact §61-13-3 of said code; to amend and reenact §61-14-2, §61-
        14-3, §61-14-4, §61-14-5, §61-14-6, §61-14-7, §61-14-8, and §61-14-9 of said code; to
        amend and reenact §61-15-2 and §61-16-2 of said code; to amend and reenact §62-6-8 of
        said code; to amend and reenact §62-12-2 and §62-12-26 of said code; to amend said
        code by adding thereto a new article, designated §23-5B-1, §23-5B-2, §23-5B-3, and §23-
        5B-4; to amend said code by adding thereto two new sections, designated §30-1-27, and
        §30-1-28; to amend said code by adding thereto a new section, designated §30-29-9a; to
        amend said code by adding thereto a new section, designated §55-2-23; to amend said
        code by adding a new section, designated §60A-4-418; to amend said code by adding
        thereto nine new sections, designated §61-2-17, §61-2-18, §61-2-19, §61-2-20, §61-2-21,
        §61-2-22, §61-2-23, §61-2-24, and §61-2-25; to amend said code by adding thereto three
        new sections, §61-3-9, §61-3-10, and §61-3-17; to amend said code by adding thereto
        three new sections, designated §61-3B-8, §61-3B-9, and §61-3B-10; to amend said code
        by adding thereto two new sections, §61-3C-22 and §61-3C-23; to amend said code by
        adding thereto a new article, designated §61-3F-1, §61-3F-2, §61-3F-3, §61-3F-4, §61-3F-
        5, §61-3F-6, §61-3F-7, §61-3F-8, §61-3F-9, §61-3F-10; §61-3F-11, §61-3F-12, §61-3F-13,
        §61-3F-14, §61-3F-15, §61-3F-16, and §61-3F-17; to amend said code by adding thereto a
                                                   3
      Intr. HB                                                                                  2024R1934
         new section, designated §61-4-10; to amend said code by adding thereto three new
         sections, designated §61-7-13, §61-7-18, and §61-7-19; to amend said code by adding
         thereto five new sections, designated §61-8-3, §61-8-4, §61-8-17, §61-8-18, and §61-8-
         24; to amend said code by adding thereto six new sections, designated §61-8B-6, §61-8B-
         19, §61-8D-11, §61-8D-12, §61-10-18, and §61-10-21; to amend said code by adding
         thereto two new sections, designated §61-11-27 and §61-11-28; to amend said code by
         adding thereto a new article, designated §61-17-1, §61-17-2, §61-17-3, §61-17-4, §61-17-
         5, §61-17-6, and §61-17-7; and to amend said code by adding thereto a new article,
         designated §61-18-1, §61-18-2, §61-18-3, and §61-18-4, all relating to revising the
         criminal code generally; relating to the failure of a sex offender to register or provide notice
         of registration changes and the penalty for the same; timber theft, investigations thereof,
         and the criminal and civil penalties for the same; crimes against the worker’s
         compensation system generally; the crime of omission to subscribe for workers’
         compensation insurance; the crime of failure to file a premium tax report or pay premium
         taxes; crimes relating to false testimony or statements concerning such; the crime of failure
         to file reports; criminal penalties for such actions or inactions; provisions for asset
         forfeiture; venue for trial of such crimes; the crime of wrongfully seeking workers’
         compensation; criminalizing false testimony or statements given in support of the same;
         criminal penalties for these offenses; venue for the trial of such crimes; workers’
         compensation health care offenses; fraud; theft or embezzlement; false statements;
         criminal penalties for the above offenses; notice requirements; prohibition against
        providing future services; penalties for the same; provisions for asset forfeiture; venue for
        the trial of such crimes; defining the crime of providing false documentation to workers’
        compensation, to the Insurance Commissioner or a private carrier of workers’
        compensation insurance; criminalizing altering documents or certificates from workers’
        compensation; criminal penalties for such offenses; venue for the trial of such crimes; the
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      Intr. HB                                                                                2024R1934
        required reporting of gunshot and other wounds; the required reporting of burns; penalty
        for aiding and abetting; railroad employees being conservators of the peace; special
        railroad policemen; and the powers and duties of the same; relating to shooting ranges,
        limitations on nuisance actions, and noise ordinances; relating generally to criminal activity
        and the punishment thereof; wanton endangerment involving the use of fire, and the
        criminal penalty for the same; relating to crimes against the government; defining treason,
        the crime of treason, and penalties therefor, the crime of failure to give information of
        treason and its penalty; the crime of desecration of the flag, and its penalty; relating to
        crimes against the person, first and second degree murder defined, and punishment for the
        same; delineating provisions for allegations in indictment for homicide; defining voluntary
        manslaughter and the penalty thereof; defining involuntary manslaughter, and specifying
        the penalty for the same; defining concealment of a deceased human body, and specifying
        the penalty for the same; clarifying that homicide is punishable within the state if injury
        occurs within and death without, or vice versa; defining an attempt to kill or injure by
        poison, and specifying the penalty for the same; defining the crime of abortion and the
        penalty for the same; defining malicious or unlawful assault, assault, and battery, and
        specifying the penalties for each and aggravated factors and enhanced penalties;
        explaining provisions of sentencing for such acts committed by incarcerated persons;
        defining assault during the commission of or attempt to commit a felony, and specifying the
        penalty for the same; delineating that for violent crimes against the elderly a sentence is
        not subject to suspension or probation; defining harassment, and providing penalties, and
        certain definitions for the same; defining strangulation, suffocation, and asphyxiation and
        providing definitions and penalties for the same; defining robbery or attempted robbery and
        specifying the penalties for the same; defining extortion, and attempted extortion by threat,
        and specifying the penalty for these; defining kidnapping and specifying penalties for the
        same; defining concealment or removal of a minor child from custodian or from person
                                                       5
      Intr. HB                                                                                2024R1934
        entitled to visitation; and setting forth penalties and defenses for the same; providing that
        one aiding or abetting in kidnapping or in concealing or removing a minor child is guilty as a
        principal, and explaining venue for those offenses; defining unlawful restraint and
        providing penalties for the same; prohibiting the purchase or sale of a child, setting the
        criminal penalty for the same, and providing definitions and exceptions; the failure to
        remove doors from abandoned refrigerators, freezers and other appliances, and providing
        penalties for the same; providing definitions for various forms of domestic violence and
        criminal penalties; providing definitions and criminal penalties for the abuse or neglect of
        an incapacitated adult; providing criminal penalties for the death of an incapacitated adult
        by a caregiver; defining and providing criminal penalties for the financial exploitation of an
        elderly person, protected person or incapacitated adult; recognizing an embryo or fetus as
        a distinct unborn victim of certain crimes of violence against the person; relating to crimes
        against property; arson; the degrees of arson, and definitions and criminal penalties for the
        same; burning, or attempting to burn, insured property and the criminal penalty for the
        same; causing injuries during an arson-related crime, and the criminal penalties for the
        same; recovery of costs incurred in fighting fires caused by arson; defining burglary, the
        entry of dwelling house or outbuilding, and providing criminal penalties for the same;
        defining entry of a house, building, vehicle, or enclosed property, the criminal penalties for
        the same, and specifying counts in indictment for the same; manufacture or possession of
        burglary tools, and the criminal penalties for the same; setting forth criminal offenses
        involving theft detection shielding devices, their criminal penalties and providing for
        detention of persons suspected of this offense; grand larceny, aggravated grand larceny,
        and petit larceny distinguished, setting forth the criminal penalties for each, defining
        larceny of bank notes, checks, writings of value and book accounts, and delineating the
        determination of value in larceny; explaining receiving or transferring stolen goods and
        providing a criminal penalty; providing a criminal penalty for bringing into this state,
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      Intr. HB                                                                                  2024R1934
        receiving or disposing of property stolen in another state; embezzlement, and the criminal
        penalties for the same; falsifying accounts, and the criminal penalties for the same;
        possession or use of automated sales suppression devices, and the criminal penalties for
        the same; the offenses of destroying or concealing a will, and embezzlement by fiduciary,
        and the criminal penalties for the same; obtaining money, property and services by false
        pretenses, disposing of property to defraud creditors, and the criminal penalties for each of
        these; the offenses of attempted or fraudulent use, forgery, traffic of credit cards,
        possession and transfer of credit cards and credit card making equipment, the false or
        fraudulent use of telephonic services, and the criminal penalties for these offenses;
        intercepting or monitoring customer telephone calls, and the criminal penalties for the
        same; requirements for finding fraudulent schemes and provisions for the cumulation of
        amounts where a common scheme exists, and the criminal penalties for the same; the
        casting away, destroying, or interfering with floating craft or material, and the criminal
        penalties for the same; interference with or destruction of buoys, signal lights or other aids
        to navigation, and the criminal penalties for the same; the offense of malicious killing of
        animals by poison or otherwise, and the criminal penalties for the same; the removal out of
        a county of property securing a claim, and the criminal penalties for such offense; the
        fraudulent disposition of personal property in possession by virtue of lease, notice to
        return, failure to return, and penalties where such property is not returned; noting a right to
        immediate possession in such instances; making a f