WEST virginia Legislature

2016 regular session

Introduced

Senate Bill 283

By Senator Ferns

[Introduced January 14, 2016; 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 §60A-10-13a, relating to creating the crime of arson resulting from a fire in a clandestine drug laboratory and establishing criminal penalties.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended by adding thereto a new section, designated §60A-10-13a, to read as follows:

ARTICLE 10. METHAMPHETAMINE LABORATORY ERADICATION ACT.

§60A-10-13a. Arson resulting from the operation of a clandestine drug laboratory.

 Any person who operates a clandestine drug laboratory as that term is defined in section two, article eleven of this chapter, and who as a result of, or in the course of, unlawfully and intentionally manufacturing methamphetamine, sets fire to or burns, or who causes to be burned, any dwelling, outbuilding, building or structure of any class or character is guilty of first degree arson as set forth in section one, article three, chapter sixty-one of this code and, upon conviction thereof, shall be sentenced as set forth in that section. 

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to create the crime of arson when a fire is caused by the operation of a clandestine drug laboratory and to create penalties. 

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