West Virginia 2020 Regular Session Status: Enacted

SB 261 — Creating criminal penalties for introducing ransomware into computer with intent to extort

Last action — Chapter 84, Acts, Regular Session, 2020

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  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, 2020. Enacted.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 76% · 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.

  • 4 sponsors

    1 primary, 3 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 2 recorded votes so far.

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Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

13 added · 273 removed

Plain-language change summary

The latest amendment to Bill SB 261 adds the phrase "a determinate sentence of" in multiple sections concerning sentencing guidelines. This change clarifies that the legislation now specifies fixed sentences for certain offenses instead of leaving room for more flexible sentencing options. This matters because it aims to create more consistency and predictability in how sentences are handed down, which can affect both the legal system's efficiency and individuals facing these sentences.

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SB 261 Text skip navigation SENATE PRESIDENT SENATORS COMMITTEES VIDEO/AUDIO DISTRICT MAPS SENATE CLERK SENATE RULES HOUSE SPEAKER DELEGATES COMMITTEES VIDEO/AUDIO DISTRICT MAPS HOUSE CLERK HOUSE RULES HOUSE STAFF JOINT INTERIM COMMITTEES LEGISLATIVE ADMINISTRATOR LEGISLATIVE SERVICES DIVISION PUBLIC INFORMATION LEGISLATIVE AUTOMATED SYSTEMS DIVISION LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR'S OFFICE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION & RESEARCH DIVISION POST AUDIT DIVISION BUDGET DIVISION REGULATORY AND FISCAL AFFAIRS DIVISION CLAIMS COMMISSION CRIME VICTIMS RULE-MAKING REVIEW SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS JUDICIAL COMP.
SB261 H JUD AM #1 Casto 3264   The Committee on the Judiciary moved to amend the bill on page 5, section 61-3C-4(a), line 6, after the word “for” by inserting the phrase “a determinate sentence of” AND On page 5, section 61-3C-4(b), line 10, after the word “for” by inserting the phrase “a determinate sentence of” AND ON page 5, section 61-3C-4(d), line 19, after the word “for” by inserting the phrase “a determinate sentence of”   Adopted Rejected
COMMISSION JOINT RULES STAFF INFO BILL STATUS BILL STATUS BILL TRACKING STATE LAW WEST VIRGINIA CODE ACTS OF THE LEGISLATURE CODE OF 1931 WV CONSTITUTION US CONSTITUTION REPORTS AGENCY REPORTS AGENCY GRANT AWARDS PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS POST AUDITS EDUCATIONAL CITIZEN’S GUIDE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM PAGE PROGRAM PUBLICATIONS PHOTO GALLERY CAPITOL HISTORY HOW A BILL BECOMES LAW CONTACT SENATE ROSTER HOUSE ROSTER PUBLIC INFO.
NEWS RELEASES HELPFUL LINKS Enrolled Version - Final Version « Senate Bill 261 History OTHER VERSIONS  —  Committee Substitute (1)  |  Introduced Version  |   |  Email Key:
Green = existing Code.
Red = new code to be enacted WEST virginia legislature regular session Enrolled Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 261 Senators Ihlenfeld, Baldwin, Stollings, and Maynard, original sponsors [Passed March 7, 2020;
in effect 90 days from passage]     AN ACT to amend and reenact §61-3C-3 and §61-3C-4 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, all relating to contaminating a computer with ransomware;
creating criminal offense of introducing ransomware into any computer, computer system, or computer network with the intent to extort money or other consideration;
setting forth the elements of the offense;
defining terms;
and establishing criminal penalties.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
ARTICLE 3C.
WEST VIRGINIA COMPUTER CRIME AND ABUSE ACT.
§61-3C-3.
Definitions.
As used in this article, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
(1) “Access” means to instruct, communicate with, store data in, retrieve data from, intercept data from, or otherwise make use of any computer, computer network, computer program, computer software, computer data, or other computer resources.
(2) “Authorization” means the express or implied consent given by a person to another to access or use said person’s computer, computer network, computer program, computer software, computer system, password, identifying code, or personal identification number.
(3) “Computer” means an electronic, magnetic, optical, electrochemical, or other high-speed data processing device performing logical, arithmetic, or storage functions and includes any data storage facility or communication facility directly related to, or operating in conjunction with, such device.
The term “computer” includes any connected or directly related device, equipment, or facility which enables the computer to store, retrieve, or communicate computer programs, computer data, or the results of computer operations to or from a person, another computer, or another device, file servers, mainframe systems, desktop personal computers, laptop personal computers, tablet personal computers, cellular telephones, game consoles, and any other electronic data storage device or equipment, but such term does not include an automated typewriter or typesetter, a portable hand-held calculator, or other similar device.
(4) “Computer contaminant” means any set of computer instructions that are designed to damage or destroy information within a computer, computer system, or computer network without the consent or permission of the owner of the information.
They include, but are not limited to, a group of computer instructions commonly called viruses or worms that are self-replicating or self-propagating and are designed to contaminate other computer programs or computer data, consume computer resources, or damage or destroy the normal operation of the computer.
(5) “Computer data” means any representation of knowledge, facts, concepts, instruction, or other information computed, classified, processed, transmitted, received, retrieved, originated, stored, manifested, measured, detected, recorded, reproduced, handled, or utilized by a computer, computer network, computer program, or computer software, and may be in any medium, including, but not limited to, computer printouts, microfilm, microfiche, magnetic storage media, optical storage media, punch paper tape, or punch cards, or it may be stored internally in read-only memory or random access memory of a computer or any other peripheral device.
(6) “Computer network” means a set of connected devices and communication facilities, including more than one computer, with the capability to transmit computer data among them through such communication facilities.
(7) “Computer operations” means arithmetic, logical, storage, display, monitoring, or retrieval functions or any combination thereof and includes, but is not limited to, communication with, storage of data in or to, or retrieval of data from any device, and the human manual manipulation of electronic magnetic impulses.
A “computer operation” for a particular computer shall also mean any function for which that computer was designed.
(8) “Computer program” means an ordered set of computer data representing instructions or statements, in a form readable by a computer, which controls, directs, or otherwise influences the functioning of a computer or computer network.
(9) “Computer software” means a set of computer programs, procedures, and associated documentation concerned with computer data or with the operation of a computer, computer program, or computer network.
(10) “Computer services” means computer access time, computer data processing, or computer data storage, and the computer data processed or stored in connection therewith.
(11) “Computer supplies” means punch cards, paper tape, magnetic tape, magnetic disks or diskettes, optical disks or diskettes, disk or diskette packs, paper, microfilm, and any other tangible input, output, or storage medium used in connection with a computer, computer network, computer data, computer software, or computer program.
(12) “Computer resources” includes, but is not limited to, information retrieval;
computer data processing, transmission, and storage;
and any other functions performed, in whole or in part, by the use of a computer, computer network, computer software, or computer program.
(13) “Financial instrument” includes, but is not limited to, a  check, draft, warrant, money order, note, certificate of deposit, letter of credit, bill of exchange, credit or debit card, transaction authorization mechanism, marketable security, or any computerized representation thereof.
(14) “Owner” means any person who owns or leases or is a licensee of a computer, computer network, computer data, computer program, computer software, computer resources, or computer supplies.
(15) “Person” means any natural person, general partnership, limited partnership, trust, association, corporation, joint venture, or any state, county, or municipal government and any subdivision, branch, department, or agency thereof.
(16) “Property” includes:
(A) Real property;
(B) Computers and computer networks;
(C) Financial instruments, computer data, computer programs, computer software, and all other personal property regardless of whether they are:
Show all 68 changed rows (28 more)
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(i) Tangible or intangible;
(ii) In a format readable by humans or by a computer;
(iii) In transit between computers or within a computer network or between any devices which comprise a computer;
or (iv) Located on any paper or in any device on which it is stored by a computer or by a human;
and (D) Computer services.
(17) “Ransomware” means a computer contaminant, or lock placed or introduced without authorization into a computer, computer system, or computer network that restricts access by an authorized user to the computer, computer system, computer network, or any data therein under circumstances in which the person responsible for the placement or introduction of the ransomware demands payment of money or other consideration to remove the computer contaminant, restore access to the computer, computer system, computer network, or data, or otherwise remediate the impact of the computer contaminant or lock.
(18) “Value” means having any potential to provide any direct or indirect gain or advantage to any person.
 (19) “Value of property or computer services” shall be:
(A) The market value of the property or computer services at the time of a violation of this article;
or  (B) if the property or computer services are unrecoverable, damaged, or destroyed as a result of a violation of §61-3C-6 or §61-3C-7 of this code, the cost of reproducing or replacing the property or computer services at the time of the violation.
§61-3C-4.
Computer fraud;
access to Legislature computer;
criminal penalties.
(a) Any person who, knowingly and willfully, directly or indirectly, accesses or causes to be accessed any computer, computer services, or computer network for the purpose of:
(1) Executing any scheme or artifice to defraud;
or (2) obtaining money, property, or services by means of fraudulent pretenses, representations, or promises is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned in a state correctional facility for a determinate sentence of not more than 10 years, or both fined and imprisoned.
(b) Any person who, with intent to extort money or other consideration from another, introduces ransomware into any computer, computer system, or computer network is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than $100,000 or imprisoned in a state correctional facility for a determinate sentence of not more than 10 years, or both fined and imprisoned.
(c) A person is criminally responsible for placing or introducing ransomware into a computer, computer system, or computer network if the person directly places or introduces the ransomware or directs or induces another person to do so, with the intent of demanding payment or other consideration for removing, restoring access, or other remediation of the impact of the ransomware.
  (d) (1) Any person who, knowingly and willfully, directly or indirectly, accesses, attempts to access, or causes to be accessed any data stored in a computer owned by the Legislature without authorization is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than $5,000 or imprisoned in a state correctional facility for a determinate sentence of not more than five years, or both fined and imprisoned.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of §61-3C-17 of this code to the contrary, in any criminal prosecution under this subsection against an employee or member of the Legislature, it shall not be a defense:
(A) That the defendant had reasonable grounds to believe that he or she had authorization to access the data merely because of his or her employment or membership;
or (B) that the defendant could not have reasonably known he or she did not have authorization to access the data:
Provided, That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance shall promulgate rules for the respective houses of the Legislature regarding appropriate access of members and staff and others to the legislative computer system.
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Action History

  1. Chapter 84, Acts, Regular Session, 2020

  2. Approved by Governor 3/24/20

  3. To Governor 3/18/20

  4. Approved by Governor 3/24/20 - Senate Journal

  5. Approved by Governor 3/24/20 - House Journal

  6. To Governor 3/18/20 - House Journal

  7. To Governor 3/18/20 - Senate Journal

  8. Completed legislative action

  9. Communicated to House

  10. Senate concurred in House amendments and passed bill (Roll No. 582)

  11. House Message received

  12. Communicated to Senate

  13. Passed House (Roll No. 559)

  14. Read 3rd time

  15. On 3rd reading, Special Calendar

  16. Committee amendment adopted (Voice vote)

  17. Read 2nd time

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

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

  20. On 2nd reading, Special Calendar

  21. Read 1st time

  22. On 1st reading, Special Calendar

  23. With amendment, do pass

  24. To House Judiciary

  25. To Judiciary

  26. Introduced in House

  27. Ordered to House

  28. Passed Senate (Roll No. 48)

  29. Read 3rd time

  30. On 3rd reading

  31. Read 2nd time

  32. On 2nd reading

  33. Read 1st time

  34. On 1st reading

  35. Committee substitute reported

  36. To Judiciary

  37. Introduced in Senate

  38. To Judiciary

  39. Filed for introduction

Sponsors

  • Ihlenfeld · Primary
  • Baldwin · Cosponsor
  • Stollings · Cosponsor
  • Maynard · Cosponsor

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

1 sponsors · 3 co-sponsors · 148 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

  • Ihlenfeld

Co-sponsors (3)

  • Baldwin
  • Stollings
  • Maynard

Not signed on (148)

148 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 148 →

"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 98 Yea · 0 Nay · 2 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 25000
Unaffiliated 68002
Democrat 5000
Total 98002
% of votes cast 98%0%0%2%
How each member voted (100)
Member Party Vote
Kump — Yea
Rowan — Yea
Angelucci — Yea
Espinosa — Yea
Lavender-Bowe — Yea
Rowe — Yea
Atkinson — Yea
Evans — Yea
Linville — Yea
Shott — Yea
Fast — Yea
Little — Yea
Skaff — Yea
Barnhart — Yea
Fleischauer — Yea
Longstreth — Yea
Sponaugle — Yea
Lovejoy — Yea
Staggers — Yea
Foster — Yea
Mandt — Yea
Steele — Yea
Bates — Yea
Graves — Yea
Storch — Yea
Bibby — Yea
Hamrick — Yea
Summers — Yea
Boggs — Yea
Hanna — Yea
Maynard — Yea
Swartzmiller — Yea
Brown, N. — Yea
Sypolt — Yea
Brown, S. — Yea
Hardy — Yea
Miley — Yea
Thompson, C. — Yea
Hartman — Yea
Thompson, R. — Yea
Byrd — Yea
Hicks — Yea
Nelson — Yea
Tomblin — Yea
Cadle — Yea
Higginbotham — Yea
Pack — Yea
Paynter — Yea
Walker — Yea
Canestraro — Yea
Pethtel — Yea
Waxman — Yea
Capito — Yea
Householder — Yea
Phillips — Yea
Westfall — Yea
Caputo — Yea
Porterfield — Yea
Wilson — Yea
Cowles — Yea
Jeffries, J. — Yea
Pyles — Yea
Zukoff — Yea
Robinson — Yea
Diserio — Yea
Rodighiero — Yea
Doyle — Yea
Kessinger — Yea
Estep-Burton — Not Voting
Hill — Not Voting
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
T. Kevan Bartlett Republican Yea
Vernon Criss Republican Yea
William Anderson Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Passage

Passed 33 Yea · 0 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 2000
Unaffiliated 31001
Total 33001
% of votes cast 97%0%0%3%
How each member voted (34)
Member Party Vote
LINDSAY — Yea
SMITH — Yea
BALDWIN — Yea
MANN — Yea
STOLLINGS — Yea
BEACH — Not Voting
MARONEY — Yea
SWOPE — Yea
BLAIR — Yea
MAYNARD — Yea
SYPOLT — Yea
BOLEY — Yea
PALUMBO — Yea
TAKUBO — Yea
PITSENBARGER — Yea
TARR — Yea
CLINE — Yea
PLYMALE — Yea
TRUMP — Yea
FACEMIRE — Yea
PREZIOSO — Yea
UNGER — Yea
HAMILTON — Yea
ROBERTS — Yea
WELD — Yea
HARDESTY — Yea
ROMANO — Yea
WOELFEL — Yea
IHLENFELD — Yea
RUCKER — Yea
MR PRESIDENT — Yea
JEFFRIES — Yea
Charles H. Clements Republican Yea
Mike Azinger Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors SB 261?
SB 261 is sponsored by Ihlenfeld, Baldwin, Stollings, and Maynard.
What is the current status of SB 261?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 10, 2020. Enacted.
Where can I track SB 261?
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