HB2434 HFAT Akers 4-9

Casto 3264

Delegate Akers moved to amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting therefor a new title, to read as follows:

H. B. 2434 -- “A Bill to amend and reenact §55-3C-1 and §55-3C-2 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, and adding thereto the following new sections, designated §55-3C-3, §55-3C-4, §55-3C-5,and §55-3C-6, all relating to squatting; establishing the Stop Squatters Act; providing a short title and findings; amending the definition of squatting and adding a definition for squatter; providing a limited alternative remedy to remove unauthorized persons from residential and commercial real properties; providing for the immediate removal by a law- enforcement agency upon request of the property owner of any person unlawfully occupying a residential dwelling or commercial building if certain conditions are met; providing a civil cause of action for wrongful removal; establishing misdemeanor and felony offenses for unlawfully occupying and intentionally damaging a residential dwelling or commercial building and providing penalties upon conviction thereof; establishing a misdemeanor offense for knowingly presenting a false document purporting to convey real property and providing penalties upon conviction thereof; and establishing a felony offense for any person who knowingly lists or advertises residential real property or a commercial building for sale or renting without legal title or authority and providing penalties upon conviction thereof

Adopted

Rejected