COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
FOR
Senate Bill No. 208
(By Senators Kessler and Edgell)
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[Originating in the Committee on Agriculture;
reported February 2, 2010.]
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A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by
adding thereto a new section, designated §61-8-19c, relating
to making it a felony to wager at animal fighting ventures;
making it a felony to conduct, finance, manage, supervise,
direct, lease or own any part of an animal fighting venture or
the premises on which it takes place with knowledge that
wagering is occurring; and providing criminal penalties.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended
by adding thereto a new section, designated §61-8-19c, to read as
follows:
ARTICLE 8. CRIMES AGAINST CHASTITY, MORALITY AND DECENCY.
§61-8-19c. Wagering at animal fighting prohibited; penalty.
(a) It is unlawful for any person to bet or wage money or any
other thing of value in any location or place where an animal
fighting venture occurs.
(b) It is unlawful for any person to conduct, finance, manage,
supervise, direct, lease or own all or part of a business or
premises when that person has knowledge that betting or wagering at
an animal fighting venture occurs.
(c) Any person who violates the provisions of this section is
guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not
less than $1,000 and not more than $5,000, or imprisoned in a state
correctional facility not less than one year nor more than five
years, or both fined and imprisoned.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to make wagering at animal
fighting ventures and conducting, financing, managing, supervising,
owning or leasing any part of an animal fighting venture or the
premises on which it takes place with knowledge that wagering is
occurring a felony.
This section is new; therefore, strike-throughs and
underscoring have been omitted.