ENROLLED

H. B. 2224

                        (By Delegates Howell, Manchin, Rowan, Storch, Canterbury,

                         Stansbury, Zatezalo, Butler, D. Evans, Ambler and Cooper)

                        [Passed March 13, 2015; in effect from passage.]

AN ACT to amend and reenact §15-1F-7 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to unlawful military organizations; providing that historical reenactors are not violating the provision prohibiting unlawful military organizations; and providing that individuals or groups of individuals who drill, perform or parade at public ceremonies, including funerals, are not violating the provision prohibiting unlawful military organizations.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

            That §15-1F-7 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended and reenacted to read as follows:

ARTICLE 1F. PRIVILEGES AND PROHIBITIONS.

§15-1F-7. Unlawful military organizations.

            (a) It is unlawful for any body of individuals other than the regularly organized National Guard or the troops of the United States, to associate themselves together as a military company or organization in this state. 

            (b) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, the Governor may grant permission to public or private schools of the state to organize themselves into companies of cadets, and may furnish the cadets, under proper restrictions, obsolete ordnance stores and equipment owned by the state that are not in use by the National Guard.

            (c) It is not a violation of this section for a group of individuals to associate as a military company or organization for historical, artistic or fictional performances; or, for an individual or group of individuals to drill, perform or parade at public ceremonies, including funerals.

            (d) A person who violates subsection (a) of this section, or belongs to or parades with a body of individuals with arms violating subsection (a) of this section, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be fined not more than $100 or confined in jail for not more than six months.