House 5600

WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE

2026 REGULAR SESSION

Introduced

House Bill 5600

By Delegates Pinson, Statler, Heckert, Kimble, Mazzocchi, Mallow, Jennings, and Worrell

[Introduced February 16, 2026; referred to the Committee on Government Organization]

A BILL to amend and reenact §30-29-2 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to law enforcement training and certification; and adding representation of the West Virginia Fire Marshal's office to law-enforcement professional standards subcommittee.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 29. LAW-ENFORCEMENT TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION.

§30-29-2. Law-enforcement professional standards subcommittee.

(a) The Law-Enforcement Professional Standards Subcommittee is continued as a subcommittee of the Governor's Committee on Crime, Delinquency and Correction. The subcommittee has the following responsibilities:

(1) Review and administer programs for qualification, training and certification of law-enforcement officers in the state; and

(2) Consider applications by law-enforcement officers whose certification is deemed inactive as a result of his or her separation from employment with a law-enforcement agency.

(b) The subcommittee shall be comprised of eleven members, including one representative of each of the following:

(1) West Virginia State Police;

(2) Law-enforcement section of the Department of Natural Resources;

(3) West Virginia Sheriffs' Association;

(4) West Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police;

(5) West Virginia Deputy Sheriffs' Association;

(6) West Virginia State Lodge Fraternal Order of Police;

(7) West Virginia Municipal League;

(8) West Virginia Association of County Officials;

(9) Human Rights Commission;

(10) West Virginia Troopers Association; and

(11) Office of the State Fire Marshal; and

(12) The public at large.

(c) The subcommittee shall elect a chairperson and a vice chairperson. Special meetings may be held upon the call of the chairperson, vice chairperson or a majority of the members of the subcommittee. A majority of the members of the subcommittee who are present in person, by proxy or designation, or by electronic means constitutes a quorum. Any member appointed to the subcommittee who is a written designated representative has the full rights of a member, including the right to vote, serve on subcommittees or perform any other function.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to add representation of the Office of the State Fire Marshal to the LEPS committee.

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