The Senate passed seven bills during floor session on Thursday morning.
Senate Bill 4 would establish a new law in West Virginia that creates a 30-foot barrier around “first responders,” which are defined to include law-enforcement officers, probation officers, firefighters, and emergency responders, when they are lawfully performing their duties.
This legislation would make it a misdemeanor offense, punishable by a fine of up to $500 or jail time of up to one year, for any person to knowingly and willfully approach or remain within 30 feet of a first responder after receiving a verbal warning to stay back, if their actions impede the first responder’s duty, threaten physical harm, or harass them.
Senate Bill 84 would establish new rules for law enforcement regarding the use of surveillance cameras on private property in West Virginia. The legislation generally prohibits law enforcement officers from installing any surveillance camera on private land unless they first obtain permission from the property owner or a valid search warrant.
However, there are exceptions in the bill: officers can install cameras in areas where they have a legal right to be and that face locations visible to the public, and they can also install cameras on private property if there are urgent circumstances that prevent them from getting permission or a warrant in time.
The body also passed Senate Bill 388, which would require public elementary and secondary schools in West Virginia to make the Aitken Bible available in all fourth, eighth, and tenth-grade social studies classrooms, with the understanding that this requirement also extends to public charter schools. The bill specifies that while private donations can be used to acquire the Aitken Bible for these classrooms, no public taxpayer funds are permitted for this purpose.
Senate Bills 390, 400, 443 and 445 also passed in the Senate today.
These bills now head to the House of Delegates for consideration.
Bills Introduced: 654-670
The Senate is adjourned until Friday, Jan. 30, at 10 a.m.
Afternoon Meetings:
Economic Development at 12:45 p.m. in 208W
Energy at 1:30 p.m. in 208W
Finance at 3 p.m. in 451M
Judiciary at 3 p.m. in 208W
Morning Meetings for Jan. 30:Â
Finance at 9 a.m. in 451M
