H. B. 2679

         (By Delegates Sobonya, Reynolds and C. Miller)

         [Introduced January 20, 2011; referred to the

         Committee on the Judiciary.]

A BILL to amend and reenact §49-6A-8 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to increasing criminal penalties for failing to report child abuse.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

    That §49-6A-8 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended and reenacted to read as follows:

ARTICLE 6A. REPORTS OF CHILDREN SUSPECTED TO BE ABUSED OR NEGLECTED.

§49-6A-8. Failure to report; penalty.

    Any person, official or institution required by this article to report a case involving a child known or suspected to be abused or neglected, or required by section five of this article to forward a copy of a report of serious injury, who knowingly fails to do so or knowingly prevents another person acting reasonably from doing so, shall be is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be confined in the county jail not more than ten thirty days or fined not more than one hundred $1,000, or both fined and confined.

    NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to increase criminal penalties for failing to report child abuse.

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