H. B. 4725
(By Delegates Armstead, Hall, Harrison,
Webb, Flanigan, Rowe and Pino)
[Introduced February 25, 2000; referred to the
Committee on the Judiciary then Finance.]
A BILL to amend article two, chapter fifteen of the code of West
Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, by
adding thereto a new section, designated section forty-four,
relating to requiring the superintendent of the state police
to equip and maintain a state police video gaming unit, for
the purpose of enforcing laws prohibiting gambling using
certain types of machines.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That article two, chapter fifteen of the code of West
Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, be
amended by adding thereto a new section, designated section
forty-four, to read as follows:
ARTICLE 2. WEST VIRGINIA STATE POLICE.
§15-2-44. State police video gaming unit.
(a) The superintendent of the state police shall establish, equip and maintain within the state police a state police video
gaming unit, for the purpose of enforcing laws prohibiting gambling
using:
(1) Video poker or blackjack machines;
(2) Slot machines;
(3) Any other machines or devices, that are in the nature of
a slot machine or multiple coin console machine; or
(4) Other similar devices that are kept and maintained under
the pretext that they are used for entertainment purposes only, but
for which prohibited pay-outs or refunds are made.
(b) The provisions of this code that the unit is charged with
enforcing, include, but are not limited to:
(1) Subdivision (2), subsection (a), section twelve, article
seven of chapter sixty; and
(2) Article ten of chapter sixty-one.
(c) The superintendent shall appoint or designate a supervisor
to be in charge of the unit. The supervisor shall coordinate
enforcement efforts with affected state agencies and county and
other local law-enforcement agencies. The supervisor is
responsible to the superintendent for the affairs of the unit.
Members of the state police assigned to the unit shall carry out
their duties and assignments in accordance with internal management
rules promulgated by the superintendent.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to require the
Superintendent of the State Police to equip and maintain a State
Police Video Gaming Unit, for the purpose of enforcing laws
prohibiting gambling using "gray machines."
This section is new; therefore, strike-throughs and
underscoring have been omitted.