WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE
2025 REGULAR SESSION
Introduced
Senate Bill 475
By Senator Stuart
[Introduced February 14, 2025; referredto the Committee on the Judiciary]
A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding a new section, designated §61-7-18, relating to the creation of the Violent Crime Prevention Act; requiring ballistic data be submitted to the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network for alleged use of a firearm in connection with charges for certain crimes; and providing a time frame for law enforcement to submit the data.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
## ARTICLE 7. DANGEROUS WEAPONS.
## §61-7-18. Violent crime prevention act.
(a) West Virginia law-enforcement agencies shall submit required ballistics data to the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network for any firearm that is alleged to have been used in connection with the following offenses:
(1) A felony crime of violence against the person, as defined in §61-11-26(p)(3);
(2) Domestic violence, as defined in §48-27-202; or
(3) The distribution of a controlled substance pursuant to §60A-4-401 et seq..
(b) Data shall be submitted by a law enforcement agency within one month of a charge brought upon an individual in the above three categories.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to create the Violent Crime Prevention Act; require ballistic data be submitted to the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network for alleged use of a firearm in connection with charges for certain crimes; and provide a timeframe for law enforcement to submit the data.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.