H. B. 2612
(By Delegates Sobonya, Reynolds, Morgan,
C. Miller, Stephens and Duke)
[Introduced January 13, 2010; referred to the
Committee on the Judiciary.]
A BILL to amend and reenact §49-6A-8 of the Code of West Virginia,
1931, as amended, relating to increasing criminal penalties
for failing to report child abuse.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That §49-6A-8 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended,
be amended and reenacted to read as follows:
ARTICLE 6A. REPORTS OF CHILDREN SUSPECTED TO BE ABUSED OR
NEGLECTED.
§49-6A-8. Failure to report; penalty.
Any person, official or institution required by this article
to report a case involving a child known or suspected to be abused
or neglected, or required by section five of this article to
forward a copy of a report of serious injury, who knowingly fails
to do so or knowingly prevents another person acting reasonably
from doing so, shall be is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be confined in the county jail not more
than ten thirty days or fined not more than one hundred $1,000, or
both fined and confined.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to increase criminal
penalties for failing to report child abuse.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from
the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would
be added.