WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE

2024 REGULAR SESSION

Introduced

House Bill 5610

By Delegate Hansen

[Introduced February 12, 2024; Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary]

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §3-1-17A, relating to requiring certain candidates for county offices to disclose criminal history when filing for office.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS AND DEFINITIONS.

§3-1-17A. Candidates for sheriff and prosecutor to disclose criminal histories.

To assure that the public when electing county officers that have law enforcement or prosecutorial duties are informed of their character, each candidate for the office of sheriff or prosecuting attorney shall when filing as a candidate for that office provide a statement with the Secretary of State disclosing any prior criminal history record, including a statement regarding any arrest, prosecution or conviction of any felony in this or any other jurisdiction.  The statement shall include a description of the crime and disposition of any case brought against the candidate.  The purpose of this statement is not to prevent persons with criminal histories from being prevented from holding office, but to provide notice to the public of this information.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to require candidates for sheriff or prosecutor to file a notice with the Secretary of State of prior criminal history when filing for office.

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