Senate 475

WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE

2025 REGULAR SESSION

Introduced

Senate Bill 475

By Senator Stuart

[Introduced February 14, 2025; referred
to the Committee on the Judiciary]

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding a new section, designated §61-7-18, relating to the creation of the Violent Crime Prevention Act; requiring ballistic data be submitted to the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network for alleged use of a firearm in connection with charges for certain crimes; and providing a time frame for law enforcement to submit the data.  

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 7. DANGEROUS WEAPONS.

§61-7-18.  Violent crime prevention act.

(a) West Virginia law-enforcement agencies shall submit required ballistics data to the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network for any firearm that is alleged to have been used in connection with the following offenses:

(1) A felony crime of violence against the person, as defined in §61-11-26(p)(3);

(2) Domestic violence, as defined in §48-27-202; or

(3) The distribution of a controlled substance pursuant to §60A-4-401 et seq..  

(b) Data shall be submitted by a law enforcement agency within one month of a charge brought upon an individual in the above three categories.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to create the Violent Crime Prevention Act; require ballistic data be submitted to the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network for alleged use of a firearm in connection with charges for certain crimes; and provide a timeframe for law enforcement to submit the data.  

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.