West Virginia 2019 Regular Session Status: Enacted

SB 237 — Improving ability of law enforcement to locate and return missing persons

Last action — Chapter 224, Acts, Regular Session, 2019

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

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 10, 2019. Enacted.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 74% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

High

How often bills like it became law.

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 3 sponsors

    1 primary, 2 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 2 recorded votes so far.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

125 added · 115 removed

Plain-language change summary

The revised version of SB 237 broadens the scope of the proposed legislation by adding several new sections that outline specific procedures for law enforcement when handling missing persons cases, as well as establishing a clear framework for the identification of human remains. It now includes requirements for timely family notifications and mandates submission of relevant data to national and state databases. Additionally, the bill introduces a misdemeanor charge for anyone knowingly filing a false missing persons report. These changes are important as they aim to enhance the effectiveness of investigations related to missing persons, ensuring that families receive timely updates and that law enforcement agencies have the necessary guidance and tools to manage these sensitive cases more effectively.

→
Previous
Latest
NEWS RELEASES HELPFUL LINKS Enrolled Version - Final Version « Senate Bill 237 History OTHER VERSIONS  —  Committee Substitute (1)  |  Introduced Version  |   |  Email Key:
NEWS RELEASES HELPFUL LINKS SB237 SUB1 « Senate Bill 237 History OTHER VERSIONS  —  Enrolled Version - Final Version  |  Introduced Version  |   |  Email Key:
Red = new code to be enacted WEST virginia legislature regular session Enrolled Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 237 Senators Jeffries, Cline, and Baldwin, original sponsors [Passed March 5, 2019;
Red = new code to be enacted WEST virginia legislature regular session Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 237 Senators Jeffries, Cline, and Baldwin, original sponsors [Originating in the Committee on the Judiciary;
in effect 90 days from passage]     AN ACT to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §15‑3C‑1, §15‑3C‑2, §15‑3C‑3, §15‑3C‑4, §15‑3C‑5, §15‑3C‑6, §15‑3C‑7, and §15‑3C‑8, all relating generally to missing and unidentified persons investigations;
Reported on February 5, 2019]     A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §15‑3C‑1, §15‑3C‑2, §15‑3C‑3, §15‑3C‑4, §15‑3C‑5, §15‑3C‑6, §15‑3C‑7, and §15‑3C‑8, all relating generally to missing and unidentified persons investigations;
A person who knowingly and willfully files a false missing persons complaint is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than $25 nor more than $200, or confined in jail for five days, or both fined and confined.  Bill Status  |  Bill Tracking  |  Legacy WV Code  |  Bulletin Board  |  District Maps  |  Senate Roster  |  House Roster  |  Live  |  Blog  |  Jobs  |  Links  |  Home This Web site is maintained by the West Virginia Legislature's Office of Reference & Information.
A person who knowingly and willfully files a false missing persons complaint is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than $25 nor more than $200, or confined in jail for five days, or both fined and confined.    NOTE:
The purpose of this bill is to improve the process of coordinating law‑enforcement agencies in finding missing persons and identifying found remains.
Strike‑throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.
Bill Status  |  Bill Tracking  |  Legacy WV Code  |  Bulletin Board  |  District Maps  |  Senate Roster  |  House Roster  |  Live  |  Blog  |  Jobs  |  Links  |  Home This Web site is maintained by the West Virginia Legislature's Office of Reference & Information.
⬇ Download PDF
View plain text versions (3)

Action History

  1. Chapter 224, Acts, Regular Session, 2019

  2. Approved by Governor 3/25/19

  3. To Governor 3/19/19

  4. Approved by Governor 3/25/19 - Senate Journal

  5. Approved by Governor 3/25/19 - House Journal

  6. To Governor 3/19/19 - House Journal

  7. To Governor 3/19/19 - Senate Journal

  8. House Message received

  9. Completed legislative action

  10. Communicated to Senate

  11. Passed House (Roll No. 452)

  12. Read 3rd time

  13. On 3rd reading, Special Calendar

  14. Read 2nd time

  15. On 2nd reading, Special Calendar

  16. Read 1st time

  17. On 1st reading, Special Calendar

  18. Do pass

  19. To House Judiciary

  20. To Judiciary

  21. Introduced in House

  22. Ordered to House

  23. Passed Senate (Roll No. 95)

  24. Read 3rd time

  25. On 3rd reading

  26. Read 2nd time

  27. On 2nd reading

  28. Read 1st time

  29. On 1st reading

  30. Committee substitute reported

  31. To Judiciary

  32. Introduced in Senate

  33. To Judiciary

  34. Filed for introduction

Sponsors

  • Cline · Cosponsor
  • Baldwin · Cosponsor
  • Jeffries · Primary

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

1 sponsors · 2 co-sponsors · 149 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

  • Jeffries

Co-sponsors (2)

  • Cline
  • Baldwin

Not signed on (149)

149 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 149 →

"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 100 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 71000
Republican 24000
Democrat 5000
Total 100000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (100)
Member Party Vote
Atkinson — Yea
Bates — Yea
Bibby — Yea
Fast — Yea
Fleischauer — Yea
Graves — Yea
Evans — Yea
Foster — Yea
Kump — Yea
Lavender-Bowe — Yea
Longstreth — Yea
Lovejoy — Yea
Rodighiero — Yea
Rowan — Yea
Shott — Yea
Skaff — Yea
Sponaugle — Yea
Brown, N. — Yea
Brown, S. — Yea
Maynard — Yea
Hartman — Yea
Sypolt — Yea
Thompson, C. — Yea
Thompson, R. — Yea
Cadle — Yea
Canestraro — Yea
Hanna — Yea
Harshbarger — Yea
Hicks — Yea
Malcolm — Yea
Mandt — Yea
Staggers — Yea
Steele — Yea
Swartzmiller — Yea
Capito — Yea
Nelson — Yea
Tomblin — Yea
Walker — Yea
Phillips — Yea
Diserio — Yea
Jeffries, J. — Yea
Caputo — Yea
Cowles — Yea
Doyle — Yea
Hill — Yea
Paynter — Yea
Pethtel — Yea
Pyles — Yea
Robinson — Yea
Waxman — Yea
Wilson — Yea
Angelucci — Yea
Boggs — Yea
Byrd — Yea
Espinosa — Yea
Estep-Burton — Yea
Hamrick — Yea
Hardy — Yea
Higginbotham — Yea
Hollen — Yea
Householder — Yea
Kessinger — Yea
Linville — Yea
Miley — Yea
Pack — Yea
Porterfield — Yea
Rowe — Yea
Storch — Yea
Summers — Yea
Westfall — Yea
Zukoff — Yea
Evan Hansen Democrat Yea
John Williams Democrat Yea
Mike Pushkin Democrat Yea
Sean Hornbuckle Democrat Yea
Shawn Fluharty Democrat Yea
Ben Queen Republican Yea
Betsy Kelly Republican Yea
Betsy Kelly Republican Yea
Carl Martin Republican Yea
Christopher W. Toney Republican Yea
D. Rolland Jennings Republican Yea
Dean Jeffries Republican Yea
Evan Worrell Republican Yea
Gary G. Howell Republican Yea
George Miller Republican Yea
Jason Barrett Republican Yea
Jeff Campbell Republican Yea
Jim Butler Republican Yea
Joe Ellington Republican Yea
John Paul Hott Republican Yea
Mark Dean Republican Yea
Matthew Rohrbach Republican Yea
Mike Azinger Republican Yea
Pat McGeehan Republican Yea
Patrick Martin Republican Yea
Roger Hanshaw Republican Yea
Roy Cooper Republican Yea
Vernon Criss Republican Yea
William Anderson Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Passage

Passed 30 Yea · 0 Nay · 4 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 2000
Unaffiliated 28004
Total 30004
% of votes cast 88%0%0%12%
How each member voted (34)
Member Party Vote
JEFFRIES — Yea
SMITH — Yea
BALDWIN — Yea
LINDSAY — Yea
STOLLINGS — Yea
BEACH — Yea
MANN — Not Voting
SWOPE — Yea
BLAIR — Not Voting
MARONEY — Not Voting
SYPOLT — Yea
BOLEY — Yea
MAYNARD — Yea
TAKUBO — Yea
BOSO — Yea
PALUMBO — Not Voting
TARR — Yea
PLYMALE — Yea
TRUMP — Yea
CLINE — Yea
PREZIOSO — Yea
UNGER — Yea
FACEMIRE — Yea
ROBERTS — Yea
WELD — Yea
HAMILTON — Yea
ROMANO — Yea
WOELFEL — Yea
HARDESTY — Yea
RUCKER — Yea
MR PRESIDENT — Yea
IHLENFELD — Yea
Charles H. Clements Republican Yea
Mike Azinger Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

public-safety
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors SB 237?
SB 237 is sponsored by Cline, Baldwin, and Jeffries.
What is the current status of SB 237?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 10, 2019. Enacted.
Where can I track SB 237?
Track SB 237 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

Make your voice heard on SB 237

Find the representatives who decide this bill and tell them where you stand — for yourself, or mobilize your whole list in one click with One Click Politics advocacy software.

Find my representatives → Run a campaign

Stay ahead of SB 237

Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously

One Click Politics tracks every bill in Congress and all 50 states.

Track this bill →