West Virginia 2024 Regular Session Status: Passed House Of Delegates 7 R cosponsors

HB 5345 — Relating to the registration requirements in the Sex Offender Registration Act.

Last action — To Judiciary

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House of Delegates
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has passed the House of Delegates. Introduced January 30, 2024. It now moves to the second chamber.

Next likely step: consideration and a floor vote in the Senate.

Odds of enactment

Moderate chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a moderate chance of becoming law.

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Advancing 58% · moderate confidence
  • Passed House of Delegates

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 10 sponsors

    1 primary, 9 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (7 R).

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 1 recorded vote so far.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

1 added · 203 removed

Plain-language change summary

The amendment to HB 5345 introduces a new section that defines "transient residence" and requires individuals on the sex offender registry to update their information within 10 days of any changes. This change is significant because it provides clear guidelines for those without a permanent address, helping them fulfill their legal obligations more effectively. The updates aim to enhance the accountability of sex offenders and improve public safety by ensuring accurate and timely registration.

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WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION Committee Substitute for House Bill 5345 By Delegates Chiarelli, T.
HB5345 HFAT Fast 2-27Morgan 3345 Delegate Fast moved to amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting therefor a new title, to read as follows:H.
Clark, Hott, Petitto, Stephens, Forsht, DeVault, Hillenbrand, and Sheedy [Originating in the Committee on the Judiciary;
B.
Reported on February 12, 2024] CS for HB 5345 A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §15-12-1b;
5345 -- “A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §15-12-1b;
and clarifying how those required to register sex offenders, who have no permanent residence, can satisfy their legal obligation.
adding a definition for transient residence;
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
relating to establishing a 10 day timeframe by which registrants are required to update their information when there is a change in information;
ARTICLE 12.
and clarifying how those required to register sex offenders, who have no permanent residence, can satisfy their legal obligation by providing a transient residence within the state.
SEX OFFENDER REGISTRATION ACT.
     AdoptedRejected 
§15-12-1b.
Definitions.
As used in this article:
(1) "Business days" means days exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays as defined in §2-2-1 of this code.
(2) "Mental abnormality" means a congenital or acquired condition of a person that affects the emotional or volitional capacity of the person in a manner that predisposes that person to the commission of criminal sexual acts to a degree the makes the person a menace to the health and safety of other persons.
(3) "Predatory act" means an act directed at a stranger or at a person with whom a relationship has been established or promoted for the primary purpose of victimization.
(4) "Sexually motivated" means that one of the purposes for which a person committed the crime was for any person’s sexual gratification.
(5) "Sexually violent offense" means:
(A) Sexual assault in the first degree as set forth in §61-8B-3 of this code, or of a similar provision in another state, federal, or military jurisdiction;
(B) Sexual assault in the second degree as set forth in §61-8B-4 of this code, or of a similar provision in another state, federal, or military jurisdiction;
1 CS for HB 5345 (C) Sexual assault of a spouse as set forth in the former provisions of §61-8B-6 of this code, which was repealed by an act of the Legislature during the 2000 legislative session, or of a similar provision in another state, federal, or military jurisdiction;
or (D) Sexual abuse in the first degree as set forth in §61-8B-7 of this code, or of a similar provision in another state, federal, or military jurisdiction.
(6) "Sexually violent predator" means a person who has been convicted or found not guilty by reason of mental illness, mental retardation, or addiction of a sexually violent offense and who suffers from a mental abnormality or personality disorder that makes the person likely to engage in predatory sexually violent offenses.
(7) "Transient residence" means a location where a person lives, or is located for a period of three or more days in the aggregate during a calendar year, and which is not the person’s temporary or permanent address.
The term includes, but is not limited to, a place where the person sleeps or receives shelter, and a location that has no specific street address.
§15-12-2.
Registration.
(a) The provisions of this article apply both retroactively and prospectively.
(b) Any person who has been convicted of an offense or an attempted offense or has been found not guilty by reason of mental illness, mental retardation, or addiction of an offense under any of the following provisions of this code or under a statutory provision of another state, the United States Code or the Uniform Code of Military Justice which requires proof of the same essential elements shall register as set forth in §15-12-2(d) of this code and according to the internal management rules promulgated by the superintendent under authority of §15-2-25 of this code:
(1) §61-8A-1 et seq.
of this code;
(2) §61-8B-1 et seq.
of this code, including the provisions of former §61-8B-6 of this code, relating to the offense of sexual assault of a spouse, which was repealed by an act of the Legislature during the 2000 legislative session;
2 CS for HB 5345 (3) §61-8C-1 et seq.
of this code;
(4) §61-8D-5 and §61-8D-6 of this code;
(5) §61-2-14(a) of this code;
(6) §61-8-6, §61-8-7, §61-8-12, and §61-8-13 of this code;
(7) §61-3C-14b of this code, as it relates to violations of those provisions of chapter 61 listed in this subsection;
or (8) §61-14-2, §61-14-5, and §61-14-6 of this code:
Provided, That as to §61-14-2 of this code only those violations involving human trafficking for purposes of sexual servitude require registration pursuant to this subdivision.
(c) Any person who has been convicted of a criminal offense where the sentencing judge made a written finding that the offense was sexually motivated shall also register as set forth in this article.
(d) A person required to register under the provisions of this article shall register in person at the West Virginia State Police detachment responsible for covering the county of his or her residence, and ensure their information is updated within 10 days of any registration change.
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and in In doing so, he or she will provide or cooperate in providing, at a minimum, the following when registering or updating:
(1) The full name of the registrant, including any aliases, nicknames, or other names used by the registrant;
(2) The address where the registrant intends to reside or resides at the time of registration;
if no permanent address or temporary address exists, any transient residence within the state;
(3) The address of any habitable real property owned or leased by the registrant that he or she regularly visits:
Provided, That a post office box may not be provided in lieu of a physical residential address, the name and address of the registrant’s employer or place of occupation at the time of registration, the names and addresses of any anticipated future employers or places of occupation, the name and address of any school or training facility the registrant is attending at the 3 CS for HB 5345 time of registration and the names and addresses of any schools or training facilities the registrant expects to attend;
(3) (4) The registrant’s Social Security number;
(4) (5) A full-face photograph of the registrant at the time of registration;
(5) (6) A brief description of the crime or crimes for which the registrant was convicted;
(6) (7) The registrant’s fingerprints and palm prints;
(7) (8) Information related to any motor vehicle, trailer, or motor home owned or regularly operated by a registrant, including vehicle make, model, color, and license plate number:
Provided, That for the purposes of this article, the term "trailer" means travel trailer, fold-down camping trailer, and house trailer as those terms are defined in §17A-1-1 of this code;
(8) (9) Information relating to any Internet accounts the registrant has and the screen names, user names, or aliases the registrant uses on the Internet;
(9) (10) Information related to any telephone or electronic paging device numbers that the registrant has or uses, including, but not limited to, residential, work, and mobile telephone numbers;
(10) (11) A photocopy of a valid driver’s license or government-issued identification card, including a tribal identification card;
(11) (12) A photocopy of any passport and immigration documents;
(12) (13) A photocopy of any professional licensing information that authorizes the registrant to engage in an occupation or carry out a trade or business;
and (13) (14) Any identifying information, including make, model, serial number, and photograph, regarding any unmanned aerial vehicle owned or operated by a registrant.
(e) (1) On the date that any person convicted or found not guilty by reason of mental illness, mental retardation, or addiction of any of the crimes listed in §15-12-2(b) of this code, hereinafter referred to as a "qualifying offense", including those persons who are continuing under some post-conviction supervisory status, are released, granted probation or a suspended 4 CS for HB 5345 sentence, released on parole, probation, home detention, work release, conditional release or any other release from confinement, the Commissioner of Corrections and Rehabilitation, regional jail administrator supervisor, city official, or sheriff operating a jail or Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Resources, or Secretary of the Department of Health Facilities who releases the person and any parole or probation officer who releases the person or supervises the person following the release shall obtain all information required by §15-12-2(d) of this code prior to the release of the person, inform the person of his or her duty to register, and send written notice of the release of the person to the State Police within three business days of receiving the information.
The notice must include the information required by §15-12-2(d) of this code.
Any person having a duty to register for a qualifying offense shall register upon conviction, unless that person is confined or incarcerated, in which case he or she shall register within three business days of release, transfer, or other change in disposition status.
Any person currently registered who is incarcerated for any offense shall re-register within three business days of his or her release.
(2) Notwithstanding any provision of this article to the contrary, a court of this state shall, upon presiding over a criminal matter resulting in conviction or a finding of not guilty by reason of mental illness, mental retardation, or addiction of a qualifying offense, cause, within 72 hours of entry of the commitment or sentencing order, the transmittal to the sex offender registry for inclusion in the registry all information required for registration by a registrant as well as the following nonidentifying information regarding the victim or victims:
(A) His or her sex;
(B) His or her age at the time of the offense;
and (C) The relationship between the victim and the perpetrator.
The provisions of this subdivision do not relieve a person required to register pursuant to this section from complying with any provision of this article.
(f) For any person determined to be a sexually violent predator, the notice required by §15- 12-2(d) of this code must also include:
5 CS for HB 5345 (1) Identifying factors, including physical characteristics;
(2) History of the offense;
and (3) Documentation of any treatment received for the mental abnormality or personality disorder.
(g) At the time the person is convicted or found not guilty by reason of mental illness, mental retardation, or addiction in a court of this state of the crimes set forth in §15-12-2(b) of this code, the person shall sign in open court a statement acknowledging that he or she understands the requirements imposed by this article.
The court shall inform the person so convicted of the requirements to register imposed by this article and shall further satisfy itself by interrogation of the defendant or his or her counsel that the defendant has received notice of the provisions of this article and that the defendant understands the provisions.
The statement, when signed and witnessed, constitutes prima facie evidence that the person had knowledge of the requirements of this article.
Upon completion of the statement, the court shall provide a copy to the registry.
Persons who have not signed a statement under the provisions of this subsection and who are subject to the registration requirements of this article must be informed of the requirement by the State Police whenever the State Police obtain information that the person is subject to registration requirements.
(h) The State Police shall maintain a central registry of all persons who register under this article and shall release information only as provided in this article.
The information required to be made public by the State Police by §15-12-5(b)(2) of this code is to be accessible through the Internet.
Information relating to telephone or electronic paging device numbers a registrant has or uses may not be released through the Internet.
(i) For the purpose of this article, "sexually violent offense" means:
(1) Sexual assault in the first degree as set forth in §61-8B-3 of this code, or of a similar provision in another state, federal, or military jurisdiction;
6 CS for HB 5345 (2) Sexual assault in the second degree as set forth §61-8B-4 of this code, or of a similar provision in another state, federal, or military jurisdiction;
(3) Sexual assault of a spouse as set forth in the former provisions of §61-8B-6 of this code, which was repealed by an act of the Legislature during the 2000 legislative session, or of a similar provision in another state, federal, or military jurisdiction;
(4) Sexual abuse in the first degree as set forth in §61-8B-7 of this code, or of a similar provision in another state, federal, or military jurisdiction;
(j) For purposes of this article, the term "sexually motivated" means that one of the purposes for which a person committed the crime was for any person’s sexual gratification.
(k) For purposes of this article, the term "sexually violent predator" means a person who has been convicted or found not guilty by reason of mental illness, mental retardation, or addiction of a sexually violent offense and who suffers from a mental abnormality or personality disorder that makes the person likely to engage in predatory sexually violent offenses.
(l) For purposes of this article, the term "mental abnormality" means a congenital or acquired condition of a person that affects the emotional or volitional capacity of the person in a manner that predisposes that person to the commission of criminal sexual acts to a degree that makes the person a menace to the health and safety of other persons.
(m) For purposes of this article, the term "predatory act" means an act directed at a stranger or at a person with whom a relationship has been established or promoted for the primary purpose of victimization.
(n) For the purposes of this article, the term "business days" means days exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays as defined in §2-2-1 of this code NOTE:
The purpose of this bill is to clarify how those required to register sex offenders, who have no permanent residence, can satisfy their legal obligation.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.
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Action History

  1. To Judiciary

  2. To Judiciary

  3. Introduced in Senate

  4. Communicated to Senate

  5. Title amendment adopted (Voice vote)

  6. Passed House (Roll No. 328)

  7. Read 3rd time

  8. Amendment withdrawn (Voice vote)

  9. Amendment reported by the Clerk

  10. From House Calendar, 3rd reading, placed on Special Calendar

  11. On 3rd reading, House Calendar

  12. Placed on House Calendar

  13. On 3rd reading, Special Calendar

  14. On 3rd reading with right to amend, Special Calendar

  15. Read 2nd time

  16. On 2nd reading, Special Calendar

  17. From House Calendar, 2nd reading, placed on Special Calendar

  18. On 2nd reading, House Calendar

  19. Placed on House Calendar

  20. On 2nd reading, Special Calendar

  21. Postponed on 2nd reading, Special Calendar, until 2/16/2024

  22. On 2nd reading, Special Calendar

  23. Read 1st time

  24. On 1st reading, Special Calendar

  25. By substitute, do pass

  26. To House Judiciary

  27. Introduced in House

  28. To Judiciary

  29. Filed for introduction

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 9 co-sponsors · 142 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (9)

Not signed on (142)

142 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

PASSAGE

Passed 95 Yea · 0 Nay · 5 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 65001
Unaffiliated 23003
Democrat 7001
Total 95005
% of votes cast 95%0%0%5%
How each member voted (100)
Member Party Vote
Ross — Yea
Forsht — Yea
Kump — Yea
Rowe — Yea
Foster — Yea
Linville — Yea
Longanacre — Yea
Smith — Yea
Griffith — Yea
Steele — Yea
Hamilton — Yea
Martin — Yea
Hardy — Yea
Tully — Yea
Nestor — Yea
Warner — Yea
Westfall — Yea
Phillips — Yea
Winzenreid — Yea
Householder — Yea
Espinosa — Yea
Fast — Yea
Jeffries — Yea
Kirby — Not Voting
Summers — Not Voting
Devault — Not Voting
Evan Hansen Democrat Yea
Hollis Lewis Democrat Yea
Joey Garcia Democrat Yea
John Williams Democrat Yea
Kayla Young Democrat Yea
Mike Pushkin Democrat Yea
Sean Hornbuckle Democrat Yea
Shawn Fluharty Democrat Not Voting
Adam Burkhammer Republican Yea
Adam Vance Republican Yea
Andy Shamblin Republican Yea
Betsy Kelly Republican Yea
Bill Ridenour Republican Yea
Bob Fehrenbacher Republican Yea
Bryan Ward Republican Yea
Charles Sheedy Republican Yea
Christopher W. Toney Republican Yea
Chuck Horst Republican Yea
Clay Riley Republican Yea
D. Rolland Jennings Republican Yea
Dana Ferrell Republican Yea
Darren Thorne Republican Yea
Dave Foggin Republican Yea
David Green Republican Yea
Elias Coop-Gonzalez Republican Yea
Eric Brooks Republican Yea
Erica Moore Republican Yea
Evan Worrell Republican Yea
Gary G. Howell Republican Yea
Geno Chiarelli Republican Yea
George Miller Republican Yea
George Street Republican Yea
Henry Dillon Republican Yea
James Robert "JB" Akers II Republican Yea
Jarred Cannon Republican Yea
Jeff Campbell Republican Yea
Jeffrey Stephens Republican Yea
Jim Butler Republican Yea
Jimmy Willis Republican Yea
Joe Ellington Republican Yea
Joe Statler Republican Yea
John Paul Hott Republican Yea
Jonathan Pinson Republican Yea
Jordan Bridges Republican Not Voting
Jordan Maynor Republican Yea
Josh Holstein Republican Yea
Kathie Hess Crouse Republican Yea
Keith Marple Republican Yea
Laura Kimble Republican Yea
Lori Dittman Republican Yea
Margitta Mazzocchi Republican Yea
Mark Dean Republican Yea
Mark Zatezalo Republican Yea
Marty Gearheart Republican Yea
Matthew Rohrbach Republican Yea
Michael Hite Republican Yea
Michael Hornby Republican Yea
Mickey Petitto Republican Yea
Pat McGeehan Republican Yea
Patrick Lucas Republican Yea
Phil Mallow Republican Yea
Rick Hillenbrand Republican Yea
Roger Hanshaw Republican Yea
Roy Cooper Republican Yea
Scot C. Heckert Republican Yea
Stanley Adkins Republican Yea
Trenton Barnhart Republican Yea
Vacant1 Republican Yea
Vacant1 Republican Yea
Vernon Criss Republican Yea
Walter Hall Republican Yea
Wayne Clark Republican Yea
Wayne Clark Republican Yea
William Anderson Republican Yea

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Subjects

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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors HB 5345?
HB 5345 is sponsored by Charles Sheedy (Republican), Rick Hillenbrand (Republican), DeVault, Forsht, Jeffrey Stephens (Republican), Mickey Petitto (Republican), John Paul Hott (Republican), T, Geno Chiarelli (Republican), and Wayne Clark (Republican).
What is the current status of HB 5345?
This bill has passed the House of Delegates. Introduced January 30, 2024. It now moves to the second chamber.
Where can I track HB 5345?
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