WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE

2022 REGULAR SESSION

Introduced

House Bill 4315

By Delegates Burkhammer, Pinson, Keaton, Mazzocchi, Foster, Mandt, and Maynor

[Introduced January 21, 2022; Referred to the Committee on Select Committee on Jails and Prisons then the Judiciary]

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §62-17-1, relating to gender and correctional facility housing.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

Article 17. Gender and correctional facility assignment.

§62-17-1. GENDER AND CORRECTIONAL FACILITY ASSIGNMENT.

When housed in a gender-specific facility, all inmates in the State of West Virginia shall be placed based upon their biological gender at birth. No inmates shall choose to be housed with another gender based upon legal or medical gender reassignment.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to require inmates housed in the State of West Virginia to be assigned to gender-specific facilities based upon their biological gender at birth.

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