WEST virginia legislature

2016 regular session

Introduced

Senate Bill 31

By Senators Palumbo, Kessler and Gaunch

[Introduced January 13, 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 §4-5-7, relating to prohibiting impersonation of a member, staff or person under direction of the Commission on Special Investigations; creating misdemeanor offense; and establishing 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 §4-5-7, to read as follows:

ARTICLE 5.  COMMISSION ON SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS.

§4-5-7. Impersonating special investigations member, staff or related person prohibited; misdemeanor penalties.

Any person who  falsely represents himself or herself to be a member of the Commission on Special Investigations, or a member of the investigative staff employed by the commission, or to be under the order or direction of any member or investigator of the Commission on Special Investigations, or who presents a badge, official credentials or other insignia either actually or purported to be adopted or used by the commission is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than $100 nor more than $1,000, or confined in jail for not more than six months, or both fined and confined.

NOTE:  The purpose of this bill is to create a misdemeanor offense for impersonating a representative of the Commission on Special Investigations.

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