Source: http://wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/bills_text.cfm?billdoc=hb2467%20intr.htm&yr=2019&sesstype=RS&i=2467
Timestamp: 2020-07-09 11:24:59
Document Index: 795715431

Matched Legal Cases: ['§61', '§61', '§29', '§29', '§61', '§921', '§61', '§61', '§61', '§61', '§922', '§61', '§61', '§61', '§922', '§29', '§61', '§61', '§7', '§8', '§15', '§20']

House Bill 2467
A BILL to amend and reenact §61-7-4 of this Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to permitting nonresidents to obtain state licenses to carry a concealed deadly weapon; providing that concealed weapons licenses may only be issued for pistols and revolvers; establishing a fee; and providing how that fee is to be used.
(a) Except as provided in §61-7-4(h) of this code, any person desiring to obtain a state license to carry a concealed deadly weapon shall apply to the sheriff of his or her county for the license, and pay to the sheriff, at the time of application, a fee of $75, of which $15 of that amount shall be deposited in the Courthouse Facilities Improvement Fund created by §29-26-6 of this code. Concealed weapons license may only be issued for pistols and revolvers. A nonresident desiring to obtain a state license to carry a concealed deadly weapon shall apply to a sheriff of any county for the license, and pay to the sheriff, at the time of application, a fee of $100, of which $15 of that amount shall be deposited in the Courthouse Facilities Improvement Fund created by §29-26-6 of this code, and $25 of that amount shall be deposited into the State Treasury and credited to the account of the State Police for application the purchase of vehicles, equipment for vehicles, and maintenance of vehicles. Nonresident concealed weapons license may only be issued for pistols and revolvers. Each applicant shall file with the sheriff a complete application, as prepared by the Superintendent of the West Virginia State Police, in writing, duly verified, which sets forth only the following licensing requirements:
(2) That, on the date the application is made, the applicant is a bona fide United States citizen or legal resident thereof and resident of this state and of the county in which the application is made, or is a nonresident of this state for a nonresident license, and has a valid driver's license or other state-issued photo identification showing the residence;
(3) That the applicant is 21 years of age or older;
(6) That the applicant has not been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of violence other than an offense set forth in §61-7-4(a)(7) of this code in the five years immediately preceding the application;
(7) That the applicant has not been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence as defined in 18 U. S. C. §921(a)(33), or a misdemeanor offense of assault or battery either under §61-2-28 of this code or §61-2-9(b) or §61-2-9(c) of this code. in which the victim was a current or former spouse, current or former sexual or intimate partner, person with whom the defendant cohabits or has cohabited, a parent or guardian, the defendant's child or ward or a member of the defendant's household at the time of the offense, or a misdemeanor offense with similar essential elements in a jurisdiction other than this state;
(10) That the applicant is not prohibited under the provisions of §61-7-7 of this code or federal law, including 18 U. S. C. §922(g) or (n), from receiving, possessing or transporting a firearm;
(11) That the applicant has qualified under the minimum requirements set forth in §61-7-4(d) of this code for handling and firing the weapon: Provided, That this requirement shall be waived in the case of a renewal applicant who has previously qualified; and
(b) For both initial and renewal applications, the sheriff shall conduct an investigation including a nationwide criminal background check consisting of inquiries of the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, the West Virginia criminal history record responses and the National Interstate Identification Index and shall review the information received in order to verify that the information required in §61-7-4(a) of this code is true and correct. A license may not be issued unless the issuing sheriff has verified through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System that the information available to him or her does not indicate that receipt or possession of a firearm by the applicant would be in violation of the provisions of §61-7-7 of this code or federal law, including 18 U. S. C. §922(g) or (n).
(e) All concealed weapons license applications must be notarized by a notary public duly licensed under §29-4-1 et seq. of this code. Falsification of any portion of the application constitutes false swearing and is punishable under §61-5-2 of this code.
(f) The sheriff shall issue a license unless he or she determines that the application is incomplete, that it contains statements that are materially false or incorrect or that applicant otherwise does not meet the requirements set forth in this section. The sheriff shall issue, reissue or deny the license within 45 days after the application is filed if all required background checks authorized by this section are completed.
(g) Before any approved license is issued or is effective, the applicant shall pay to the sheriff a fee in the amount of $25 which the sheriff shall forward to the Superintendent of the West Virginia State Police within 30 days of receipt. The license is valid for five years throughout the state, unless sooner revoked.
(i) The Superintendent of the West Virginia State Police, in cooperation with the West Virginia Sheriffs’ Bureau of Professional Standards, shall prepare uniform applications for licenses and license cards for resident and nonresident licensees showing that the license has been granted and shall do any other act required to be done to protect the state and see to the enforcement of this section.
(j) If an application is denied, the specific reasons for the denial shall be stated by the sheriff denying the application. Any person denied a license may file, in the circuit court of the county in which the application was made, a petition seeking review of the denial. The petition shall be filed within 30 days of the denial. The court shall then determine whether the applicant is entitled to the issuance of a license under the criteria set forth in this section. The applicant may be represented by counsel, but in no case is the court required to appoint counsel for an applicant. The final order of the court shall include the court's findings of fact and conclusions of law. If the final order upholds the denial, the applicant may file an appeal in accordance with the Rules of Appellate Procedure of the Supreme Court of Appeals. If the findings of fact and conclusions of law of the court fail to uphold the denial, the applicant may be entitled to reasonable costs and attorney's fees, payable by the sheriff's office which issued the denial.
(l) Whenever any person after applying for and receiving a concealed weapon license moves from the address named in the application to another county within the state, the license remains valid for the remainder of the five years unless the sheriff of the new county has determined that the person is no longer eligible for a concealed weapon license under this article, and the sheriff shall issue a new license bearing the person's new address and the original expiration date for a fee not to exceed $5: Provided, That the licensee, within 20 days thereafter, notifies the sheriff in the new county of residence in writing of the old and new addresses.
(m) Nonresident licensees shall notify the sheriff of the issuing county and provide the licensee’s new address. The license remains valid for the remainder of the five years unless the sheriff has determined that the person is no longer eligible for a concealed weapon license under this article, and the sheriff shall issue a new license bearing the person's new address and the original expiration date for a fee not to exceed $5: Provided, That the licensee, within 20 days thereafter, notifies the sheriff who originally issued the license in writing of the old and new addresses.
(m) (n) The sheriff shall, immediately after the license is granted as aforesaid, furnish the Superintendent of the West Virginia State Police a certified copy of the approved application. The sheriff shall furnish to the Superintendent of the West Virginia State Police at any time so requested a certified list of all licenses issued in the county. The Superintendent of the West Virginia State Police shall maintain a registry of all persons who have been issued concealed weapons licenses.
(n) (o) The sheriff shall deny any application or revoke any existing license upon determination that any of the licensing application requirements established in this section have been violated by the licensee.
(o) (p) A person who is engaged in the receipt, review or in the issuance or revocation of a concealed weapon license does not incur any civil liability as the result of the lawful performance of his or her duties under this article.
(p) (q) Notwithstanding §61-7-4(a) of this code, with respect to application by a former law-enforcement officer honorably retired from agencies governed by §7-14-1 et seq. of this code; §8-14-1 et seq. of this code; §15-2-1 et seq. of this code; and §20-7-1 et seq. of this code, an honorably retired officer is exempt from payment of fees and costs as otherwise required by this section. All other application and background check requirements set forth in this section are applicable to these applicants.
(q) (r) Information collected under this section, including applications, supporting documents, permits, renewals or any other information that would identify an applicant for or holder of a concealed weapon license, is confidential: Provided, That this information may be disclosed to a law-enforcement agency or officer: (i) To determine the validity of a license; (ii) to assist in a criminal investigation or prosecution; or (iii) for other lawful law-enforcement purposes. A person who violates this subsection is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than $50 or more than $200 for each offense.
(r) (s) A person who pays fees for training or application pursuant to this article after the effective date of this section is entitled to a tax credit equal to the amount actually paid for training not to exceed $50: Provided, That if such training was provided for free or for less than $50, then such tax credit may be applied to the fees associated with the initial application.
(s) (t) Except as restricted or prohibited by the provisions of this article or as otherwise prohibited by law, the issuance of a concealed weapon license issued in accordance with the provisions of this section authorizes the holder of the license to carry a concealed pistol or revolver on the lands or waters of this state.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to permit nonresidents to obtain state licenses to carry a concealed deadly weapon. The bill provides that concealed weapons licenses may only be issued for pistols and revolvers. The bill establishes a fee. The bill provides how that fee is to be used.