(a) Each state probation and parole officer employed by the Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation shall:

(1) Investigate all cases referred to him or her for investigation by the Commissioner of Corrections and Rehabilitation and report in writing on the investigation;

(2) Update the standardized risk and needs assessment adopted by the Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation pursuant to §62-12-13(h) of this code for each parolee for whom an assessment has not been conducted for parole by a specialized assessment officer;

(3) Supervise each parolee according to the assessment and supervision standards determined by the Commissioner of Corrections and Rehabilitation;

(4) Furnish to each parolee under his or her supervision a written statement of the conditions of his or her parole together with a copy of the rules prescribed by the Commissioner of Corrections and Rehabilitation for the supervision of parolees;

(5) Keep informed concerning the conduct and condition of each parolee under his or her supervision and report on the conduct and condition of each parolee in writing as often as required by the Commissioner of Corrections and Rehabilitation;

(6) Use all practicable and suitable methods to aid and encourage a parolee and to bring about improvement in his or her conduct and condition;

(7) Keep detailed records of his or her work;

(8) Keep accurate and complete accounts of, and give receipts for, all money collected from parolees under his or her supervision, and pay over the money to persons designated by a circuit court or the Commissioner of Corrections and Rehabilitation;

(9) Give bond with good security, to be approved by the Commissioner of Corrections and Rehabilitation, in a penalty of not less than $1,000 nor more than $3,000, as determined by the Commissioner of Corrections and Rehabilitation; and

(10) Perform any other duties required by the Commissioner of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

(b) Each probation and parole officer, as described in this article, may, with or without an order or warrant: (1) Arrest or order confinement of any parolee or probationer under his or her supervision; and (2) search a parolee or probationer, or a parolee or probationer’s residence or property, under his or her supervision. A probation and parole officer may apply for a search warrant, and execute the search warrant, in connection to a parolee’s whereabouts, or a parolee’s activities. He or she has all the powers of a notary public, with authority to act anywhere within the state.

(c) The Commissioner of Corrections and Rehabilitation may issue a certificate authorizing any state parole officer who has successfully completed the Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s training program for firearms certification, which is the equivalent of that required of any correctional employee under §15A-3-10 of this code, to carry firearms or concealed weapons. Any parole officer authorized by the Commissioner of Corrections and Rehabilitation may, without a state license, carry firearms and concealed weapons. Each state parole officer, authorized by the Commissioner of Corrections and Rehabilitation, shall carry with him or her a certificate authorizing him or her to carry a firearm or concealed weapon bearing the official signature of the Commissioner of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

(d) In recognition of their duties in their employment which constitute law enforcement, state parole officers are determined to be qualified law enforcement officers as that term is used in §30-29-12 of this code.

(e) Any state parole officer may carry a concealed firearm for self-defense purposes pursuant to the provisions of 18 U.S.C. §92B if the following criteria are met:

(A) The Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation has a written policy authorizing a state parole officer to carry a concealed firearm for self-defense purposes;

(B) There shall be in place in the Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation a requirement that state parole officers must annually qualify in the use of a firearm with standards which are equal to or exceed those required of sheriff’s deputies by the Law-Enforcement Professional Standards Program;

(C) The home incarceration program issues a photographic identification and certification card which identify the home incarceration supervisors as law-enforcement employees of the home incarceration program pursuant to the provisions of §30-29-12 of this code.

(4) Any policy instituted pursuant to paragraph (A), subdivision (3) of this subsection includes provisions which: (i) Preclude or remove a person from participation in the concealed firearm program; (ii) preclude from participation persons prohibited by federal or state law from possessing or receiving a firearm and; (iii) prohibit persons from carrying a firearm pursuant to the provisions of this subsection while in an impaired state as defined in §17C-5-2 of this code.

(5) Any home incarceration supervisor who participates in a program authorized by the provisions of this subsection is responsible, at his or her expense, for obtaining and maintaining a suitable firearm and ammunition.

(6) It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting the amendments to this section during the 2021 regular session of the Legislature to authorize state parole officers wishing to do so to meet the requirements of the federal Law-Enforcement Officer’s Safety Act, 18 U.S.C. §926B.

(f) The privileges authorized by the amendments in this section enacted during the 2021 regular session of the legislature are wholly within the discretion of the Commissioner of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

CHAPTER 61. CRIMES AND THEIR PUNISHMENT.

(a) The Legislature finds that the safety and welfare of the citizens of this state are inextricably dependent upon assurances of safety for children attending and persons employed by schools in this state and for persons employed by the judicial department of this state. It is for the purpose of providing assurances of safety that §61-7-11a(b), §61-7-11a(g), and §61-7-11a(h), of this code and §61-7-11a(b)(2)(I) of this code, are enacted as a reasonable regulation of the manner in which citizens may exercise the rights accorded to them pursuant to section 22, article III of the Constitution of the State of West Virginia.

(b) (1) It is unlawful to possess a firearm or other deadly weapon:

(A) On a school bus as defined in §17A-1-1 of this code;

(B) In or on the grounds of any primary or secondary educational facility of any type: Provided, That it shall not be unlawful to possess a firearm or other deadly weapon in or on the grounds of any private primary or secondary school, if such institution has adopted a written policy allowing for possession of firearms or other deadly weapons in the facility or on the grounds ~~thereof~~ of the facility; or

(C) At a school-sponsored function that is taking place in a specific area that is owned, rented, or leased by the West Virginia Department of Education, the West Virginia Secondary Schools Activities Commission, a county school board, or local public school for the actual period of time the function is occurring;

(2) This subsection does not apply to:

(A) A law-enforcement officer employed by a federal, state, county, or municipal law- enforcement agency;

(B) Any probation officer appointed pursuant to §62-12-5 or chapter 49 of this code, in the performance of his or her duties;

(C) Any home incarceration supervisor employed by a county commission or a sheriff pursuant to §61-11B-7a of this code in the performance of his or her duties;

(D) A state parole officer appointed pursuant to §15A-7-5 of this code, while in performance of his or he official duties;

~~(C)~~ (F) A retired law-enforcement officer who meets all the requirements to carry a firearm as a qualified retired law-enforcement officer under the Law-Enforcement Officer Safety Act of 2004, as amended, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §926C(c), carries that firearm in a concealed manner, and has on his or her person official identification in accordance with that act;

~~(D)~~ (G) A person, other than a student of a primary and secondary facility, specifically authorized by the board of education of the county or principal of the school where the property is located to conduct programs with valid educational purposes;

~~(E)~~ (H) A person who, as otherwise permitted by the provisions of this article, possesses an unloaded firearm or deadly weapon in a motor vehicle or leaves an unloaded firearm or deadly weapon in a locked motor vehicle;

~~(F)~~ (I) Programs or raffles conducted with the approval of the county board of education or school which include the display of unloaded firearms;

~~(G)~~ (J) The official mascot of West Virginia University, commonly known as the Mountaineer, acting in his or her official capacity;

~~(H)~~ (K) The official mascot of Parkersburg South High School, commonly known as the Patriot, acting in his or her official capacity; or

~~(I)~~ (L) Any person, 21 years old or older, who has a valid concealed handgun permit. That person may possess a concealed handgun while in a motor vehicle in a parking lot, traffic circle, or other areas of vehicular ingress or egress to a public school: Provided, That:

(i) When he or she is occupying the vehicle the person stores the handgun out of view from persons outside the vehicle; or

(ii) When he or she is not occupying the vehicle the person stores the handgun out of view from persons outside the vehicle, the vehicle is locked, and the handgun is in a glove box or other interior compartment, or in a locked trunk, or in a locked container securely fixed to the vehicle.

(3) A person violating this subsection is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be imprisoned in a state correctional facility for a definite term of years of not less than two years nor more than 10 years, or fined not more than $5,000, or both fined and imprisoned.

(c) A school principal subject to the authority of the State Board of Education who discovers a violation of §61-7-11a(b) of this code shall report the violation as soon as possible to:

(1) The State Superintendent of Schools. The State Board of Education shall keep and maintain these reports and may prescribe rules establishing policy and procedures for making and delivering the reports as required by this subsection; and

(2) The appropriate local office of the State Police, county sheriff or municipal police agency.

(d) In addition to the methods of disposition provided by §49-5-1 et seq. of this code, a court which adjudicates a person who is 14 years of age or older as delinquent for a violation of §61-7-11a(b) of this code, may order the Division of Motor Vehicles to suspend a driver’s license or instruction permit issued to the person for a period of time as the court considers appropriate, not to extend beyond the person’s nineteenth birthday. If the person has not been issued a driver’s license or instruction permit by this state, a court may order the Division of Motor Vehicles to deny the person’s application for a license or permit for a period of time as the court considers appropriate, not to extend beyond the person’s nineteenth birthday. A suspension ordered by the court pursuant to this subsection is effective upon the date of entry of the order. Where the court orders the suspension of a driver’s license or instruction permit pursuant to this subsection, the court shall confiscate any driver’s license or instruction permit in the adjudicated person’s possession and forward it to the Division of Motor Vehicles.

(e)(1) If a person 18 years of age or older is convicted of violating §61-7-11a(b) of this code, and if the person does not act to appeal the conviction within the time periods described in §61-7-11a(e)(2) of this code, the person’s license or privilege to operate a motor vehicle in this state shall be revoked in accordance with the provisions of this section.

(2) The clerk of the court in which the person is convicted as described in §61-7-11a(e)(1) of this code shall forward to the commissioner a transcript of the judgment of conviction. If the conviction is the judgment of a magistrate court, the magistrate court clerk shall forward the transcript when the person convicted has not requested an appeal within 20 days of the sentencing for the conviction. If the conviction is the judgment of a circuit court, the circuit clerk shall forward a transcript of the judgment of conviction when the person convicted has not filed a notice of intent to file a petition for appeal or writ of error within 30 days after the judgment was entered.

(3) If, upon examination of the transcript of the judgment of conviction, the commissioner determines that the person was convicted as described in §61-7-11a(e)(1) of this code, the commissioner shall make and enter an order revoking the person’s license or privilege to operate a motor vehicle in this state for a period of one year or, in the event the person is a student enrolled in a secondary school, for a period of one year or until the person’s twentieth birthday, whichever is the greater period. The order shall contain the reasons for the revocation and the revocation period. The order of suspension shall advise the person that because of the receipt of the court’s transcript, a presumption exists that the person named in the order of suspension is the same person named in the transcript. The commissioner may grant an administrative hearing which substantially complies with the requirements of the provisions of §17C-5A-2 of this code upon a preliminary showing that a possibility exists that the person named in the notice of conviction is not the same person whose license is being suspended. The request for hearing shall be made within 10 days after receipt of a copy of the order of suspension. The sole purpose of this hearing is for the person requesting the hearing to present evidence that he or she is not the person named in the notice. If the commissioner grants an administrative hearing, the commissioner shall stay the license suspension pending the commissioner’s order resulting from the hearing.

(4) For the purposes of this subsection, a person is convicted when he or she enters a plea of guilty or is found guilty by a court or jury.

(f)(1) It is unlawful for a parent, guardian, or custodian of a person less than 18 years of age who knows that the person is in violation of §61-7-11a(b) of this code or has reasonable cause to believe that the person’s violation of §61-7-11a(b) of this code is imminent to fail to immediately report his or her knowledge or belief to the appropriate school or law-enforcement officials.

(2) A person violating this subsection is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than $1,000, or shall be confined in jail not more than one year, or both fined and confined.

(g)(1) It is unlawful for a person to possess a firearm or other deadly weapon on the premises of a court of law, including family courts.

(2) This subsection does not apply to:

(A) A law-enforcement officer acting in his or her official capacity; and

(B) A person exempted from the provisions of this subsection by order of record entered by a court with jurisdiction over the premises or offices.

(3) A person violating this subsection is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than $1,000, or shall be confined in jail not more than one year, or both fined and confined.

(h)(1) It is unlawful for a person to possess a firearm or other deadly weapon on the premises of a court of law, including family courts, with the intent to commit a crime.

(2) A person violating this subsection is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be imprisoned in a state correctional facility for a definite term of years of not less than two years nor more than 10 years, or fined not more than $5,000, or both fined and imprisoned.

(i) Nothing in this section may be construed to be in conflict with the provisions of federal law.

CHAPTER 62. CRIMINAL PROCEDURE.

ARTICLE 11B. HOME INCARCERATION ACT.

§62-11B-7a. Employment by county commission of home incarceration supervisors; authority of supervisors.

(a) The county commission may employ one or more persons with the approval of the circuit court and who ~~shall be~~ is subject to the supervision of the sheriff as a home incarceration supervisor or may designate the county sheriff to supervise offenders ordered to undergo home incarceration and to administer the county's home incarceration program. Any ~~person so~~ ~~supervising~~ supervisor shall have authority, equivalent to that granted to a probation officer pursuant to §62-12-10 of this code, to arrest a home incarceration participant when reasonable cause exists to believe that ~~such~~ the participant has violated the conditions of his or her home incarceration. Unless otherwise specified, the use of the term "supervisor" in this article shall refer to a home incarceration supervisor.

(b) In recognition of their duties in their employment which constitute law enforcement, home confinement supervisors are determined to be qualified law enforcement officers as that term is used in §30-29-12 of this code.

(c) Any home incarceration supervisor may carry a concealed firearm for self-defense purposes pursuant to the provisions of 18 U.S.C. §926B if the following criteria are met:

(A) The home incarceration program has a written policy authorizing home incarceration supervisors to carry a concealed firearm for self-defense purposes.

(B) There is in place in the home incarceration program a requirement that the home incarceration supervisors must regularly qualify in the use of a firearm with standards for qualification which are equal to, or exceed those required of sheriff’s deputies in the county in which the home incarceration supervisors are employed; and

(4) Any policy instituted pursuant to paragraph (A), subdivision (3) of this subsection shall include provisions which: (i) Preclude or remove a person from participation in the concealed firearm program; (ii) preclude from participation persons prohibited by federal or state law from possessing or receiving a firearm and; (iii) prohibit persons from carrying a firearm pursuant to the provisions of this subsection while in an impaired state as defines in §17C-5-2 of this code.

(6) The privileges authorized by the amendments to this section enacted during the 2021 regular session of the Legislature are wholly within the discretion of the supervising authority over the home confinement supervisors.

(7) It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting the amendments to this section during the 2021 regular session of the Legislature to authorize home incarceration programs wishing to do so to allow home incarceration supervisors to meet the requirements of the federal Law-Enforcement Officer’s Safety Act, 18 U.S.C. §926B.

ARTICLE 12. PROBATION AND PAROLE.

§62-12-5. Probation officers and assistants.

(a) Each circuit court, subject to the approval of the Supreme Court of Appeals and in accordance with its rules, is authorized to appoint one or more probation officers and clerical assistants.

(b) The appointment of probation officers and clerical assistants shall be in writing and entered on the order book of the court by the judge making such appointment and a copy of ~~said~~ the order of appointment shall be delivered to the Administrative Director of the Supreme Court of Appeals. The order of appointment shall state the annual salary, fixed by the judge and approved by the Supreme Court of Appeals, to be paid to the appointed probation officer or clerical ~~assistants so appointed~~.

(c) The salary of probation officers and clerical assistants shall be paid at least twice per month, as the Supreme Court of Appeals by rule may direct and they shall be reimbursed for all reasonable and necessary expenses actually incurred in the line of duty in the field. The salary and expenses shall be paid by the state from the judicial accounts thereof. The county commission shall provide adequate office space for the probation officer and his or her assistants to be approved by the appointing court. The equipment and supplies as may be needed by the probation officer and his or her assistants shall be provided by the state and the cost thereof shall be charged against the judicial accounts of the state.

(d) No A judge may not appoint any probation officer, assistant probation officer or clerical assistant who is related to him or her either by consanguinity or affinity.

(e) Subject to the approval of the Supreme Court of Appeals and in accordance with its rules, a judge of a circuit court whose circuit comprises more than one county may appoint a probation officer and a clerical assistant in each county of the circuit or may appoint the same persons to serve in these respective positions in two or more counties in the circuit.

(f) Nothing contained in this section alters, modifies, affects or supersedes the appointment or tenure of any probation officer, medical assistant or psychiatric assistant appointed by any court under any special act of the Legislature heretofore enacted, and the salary or compensation of those persons shall remain as specified in the most recent amendment of any special act until changed by the court, with approval of the Supreme Court of Appeals, by order entered of record, and any such salary or compensation shall be paid out of the State Treasury.

(g) In order to carry out the supervision responsibilities set forth in §62-26-12 of this code, the Administrative Director of the Supreme Court of Appeals, or his or her designee, in accordance with the court’s procedures, ~~is authorized~~ may to hire multijudicial‑circuit probation officers, to be employed through the court’s Division of Probation Services. Such officers may also supervise probationers who are on probation for sexual offences with the approval of the administrative director of the Supreme Court of Appeals or his or her designee.

(h) In recognition of their duties in their employment which constitute law enforcement, state probation officers are determined to be qualified law enforcement officers as that term is used in §30-29-12 of this code.

(i) Any state probation officer may carry a concealed firearm for self-defense purposes pursuant to the provisions of 18 U.S.C. §926B if the following criteria are met:

(A) The Supreme Court of Appeals has a written policy authorizing probation officers to carry a concealed firearm for self-defense purposes.

(B) There is in place a requirement that the probation officers annually qualify in the use of a firearm with standards for qualification which are equal to, or exceed those required of sheriff’s deputies by the Law-Enforcement Professional Standards Program;

(C) The Supreme Courts of Appeals issues a photographic identification and certification card which identify the home incarceration supervisors as qualified law-enforcement employees pursuant to the provisions of §30-29-12 of this code.

(5) Any probation officer who participates in a program authorized by the provisions of this subsection is responsible, at his or her expense, for obtaining and maintaining a suitable firearm and ammunition.

(6) It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting the amendments to this section during the 2021 regular session of the Legislature to authorize state probation officers wishing to do so to meet the requirements of the federal Law-Enforcement Officer’s Safety Act, 18 U.S.C. §926B.

(j) The privileges authorized by the amendments to this section enacted during the 2021 regular session of the Legislature are wholly within the discretion of the Supreme Court of Appeals.

Adopted

Rejected