H. B. 2326


(By Delegates Johnson, Fleischauer, Hutchins, Rowe,

Riggs and Trump)

[Introduced January 21, 1999; referred

to the Committee on Political Subdivisions then the Judiciary.]





A BILL to amend article one of chapter seven of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated section three- gg, relating generally to authorizing county commissions to hire county facilities security personnel; providing that the security personal be employed by the county sheriff; and prohibiting security personnel from undertaking certain law enforcement activities.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That article one, chapter seven of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one as amended, be amended and reenacted by adding thereto a new section, designated section three-gg, to read as follows:
Article 1. County Commissioners and Officers.
§7-1-3gg. Authority of county sheriff to employ county facility security officers.
County sheriffs shall employ persons to provide security at county facilities as the county commission deems necessary. The county commission shall appropriate necessary funds for the payment of wages and benefits and the sheriff of the county shall hire and supervise these personnel. No security officer herein authorized may, in the course of his or her employment, carry a weapon, escort county inmates, or conduct any duties granted solely to certified law enforcement officers of this state, pursuant to the provisions of section five, article twenty-nine, chapter thirty of this code.

Note: The purpose of this bill is to authorize county commissions to hire security officers, supervised by the county sheriff, for policing of county facilities.

This bill was recommended by the Joint Committee on the Judiciary for introduction and passage in the 1999 legislative session.