H. B. 4650
(By Delegates Sobonya, Miley, Sumner, Border
and C. Miller)
[Introduced February 20, 2012; referred to the
Committee on the Judiciary then Finance.]
A BILL to amend and reenact §49-6A-8 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to modifying 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 jail not more than ten sentenced to community service for thirty days or fined not more than one hundred $1,000, or both fined and sentenced.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to modify 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.