Source: http://wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/bills_text.cfm?billdoc=hb2872%20intr.htm&yr=2019&sesstype=RS&i=2872
Timestamp: 2020-08-10 01:38:39
Document Index: 295572438

Matched Legal Cases: ['§29', '§29', '§29', '§61', '§61', '§29', '§29', '§29', '§29', '§29', '§29', '§29', '§29', '§29', '§29']

A BILL to amend and reenact §29-3-12 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to authorizing any West Virginia State Police Officer, Natural Resources Police Officer, or any county or municipal law-enforcement officer to assist the State Fire Marshal or any of his or her employees in any duties for which the State Fire Marshal has jurisdiction; and to authorizing the State Fire Marshal, any full-time deputy fire marshal, or any full-time assistant fire marshal employed by the State Fire Marshal to carry a firearm in the course of official duties.
(b) Assistance upon request. — Upon request, the State Fire Marshal shall assist any chief of any recognized fire company or department. Upon the request of any federal law-enforcement officer, state police officer, Natural Resources police officer, or any county or municipal law-enforcement officer, the State Fire Marshal, any deputy state fire marshal, or assistant state fire marshal employed pursuant to §29-3-11 of this code and any person deputized pursuant to §29-3-12(j) of this code may assist in the lawful execution of the requesting officer’s official duties: Provided, That the State Fire Marshal, or other person authorized to act under this subsection, shall at all times work under the direct supervision of the requesting officer.
(1) To arrest any person anywhere within the confines of the State of West Virginia, or have him or her arrested, for any violation of the arson-related offenses of §61-3-1 et seq. of this code or of the explosives-related offenses of §61-3E-1 et seq. of said code: Provided, That any and all persons so arrested shall be forthwith brought before the magistrate or circuit court.
(4) Any West Virginia State Police Officer, Natural Resources Police Officer, or any county or municipal law-enforcement officer may assist, upon request, the State Fire Marshal or any of his or her employees authorized to enforce the provisions of this section in any duties for which the State Fire Marshal has jurisdiction.
(m) Issuance of permits and licenses. — The State Fire Marshal is authorized to may issue permits, documents, and licenses in accordance with the provisions of this article or §29-3B-1 et seq. of this code: Provided, That unless otherwise provided, the State Fire Marshall shall take final action upon any completed permit applications within 30 days of receipt if the application is uncontested, or within 90 days if the application is contested. The State Fire Marshal may require any person who applies for a permit to use explosives, other than an applicant for a license to be a pyrotechnic operator under §29-3-24 of this code, to be fingerprinted and to authorize the State Fire Marshal to conduct a criminal records check through the criminal identification bureau of the West Virginia State Police and a national criminal history check through the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The results of any criminal records or criminal history check shall be sent to the State Fire Marshal.
(n) Issuance of citations for fire and life safety violations. — The State Fire Marshal, any deputy fire marshal, and any assistant fire marshal employed pursuant to §29-3-11 of this code are hereby authorized, and any person deputized pursuant to §29-3-12(j) of this code may be authorized by the State Fire Marshal to issue citations, in his or her jurisdiction, for fire and life safety violations of the State Fire Code and as provided for by the rules promulgated by the State Fire Commission in accordance with §29-3-1 et seq. of this code: Provided, That a summary report of all citations issued pursuant to this section by persons deputized under §29-3-12(j) of this code shall be forwarded monthly to the State Fire Marshal in the form and containing information as he or she may by rule require, including the violation for which the citation was issued, the date of issuance, the name of the person issuing the citation, and the person to whom the citation was issued. The State Fire Marshal may at any time revoke the authorization of a person deputized pursuant to §29-3-12(j) of this code to issue citations, if in the opinion of the State Fire Marshal, the exercise of authority by the person is inappropriate.
(o) Required training; liability coverage. - No person deputized pursuant to §29-3-12(j) of this code may be authorized to issue a citation unless that person has satisfactorily completed a law-enforcement officer training course designed specifically for fire marshals. The course shall be approved by the Law-enforcement Training Subcommittee of the Governor’s Committee on Criminal Justice and Highway Safety and the State Fire Commission. In addition, no person deputized pursuant to §29-3-12(j) of this code may be authorized to issue a citation until evidence of liability coverage of the person has been provided, in the case of a paid municipal fire department, by the municipality wherein the fire department is located, or in the case of a volunteer fire department, by the county commission of the county wherein the fire department is located or by the municipality served by the volunteer fire department and that evidence of liability coverage has been filed with the State Fire Marshal.
(r) The State Fire Marshal, any full-time deputy fire marshal, or any full-time assistant fire marshal employed by the State Fire Marshal pursuant to §29-3-11 of this code may carry a firearm while acting in the course of their official duties, if the person has successfully completed a firearms training and certification program equivalent to that provided to officers attending the entry level law-enforcement certification course provided at the West Virginia State Police Academy. The person shall thereafter successfully complete an annual firearms qualification course equivalent to that required of certified law-enforcement officers as established by legislative rule. The State Fire Marshal may reimburse the person for the cost of the training and requalification.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to authorize any West Virginia State Police officer, Natural Resources Police Officer, or any county or municipal law-enforcement officer to assist the State Fire Marshal or any of his or her employees authorized to enforce the provisions of this section in any duties for which the State Fire Marshal has jurisdiction and to codify the authorization of the State Fire Marshal, any full-time deputy fire marshal, or any full-time assistant fire marshal employed by the State Fire Marshal to carry a firearm in the course of official duties.