10102590D
HOUSE BILL NO. 852
Offered January 13, 2010
Prefiled January 13, 2010
A BILL to amend and reenact §15.2-6021 of the
Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section
numbered 15.2-6021.1, relating to the powers of Southwest Regional
Recreational Authority rangers.
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Patrons-- Morefield, Kilgore and Nutter
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Referred to Committee on Militia, Police and Public Safety
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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §15.2-6021 of the Code of Virginia is amended
and reenacted and that the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section
numbered 15.2-6021.1 as follows:
§15.2-6021. Southwest Regional Recreation Area rangers.
The Spearhead
Trails Executive Director, with the consent of the board, is
authorized to establish, in compliance with the provisions of this chapter, a
ranger police department. The Spearhead
Trails Executive Director, with the consent of the board, may appoint qualified persons
as Southwest Regional Recreation Area rangers. The
ranger may enforce the rules adopted by the Board and issue civil penalties for
violations thereof and further be eligible for appointment as a special
conservator of the peace in accordance with §19.2-13 as necessary and proper
to protect and enforce the safe use and enjoyment of the properties under the
use and control of the Southwest Regional Recreation Area Authority. Upon application of the board, the
circuit court of the City of Norton or the
County of Buchanan,
Dickenson, Lee, Russell, Scott, Tazewell, and Wise, shall,
by order, appoint qualified
applicants, pursuant to §15.2-6021.1, to
be Southwest Regional Recreation Area rangers. Each ranger appointed
to the department pursuant to this section shall comply with the training or
other requirements for law-enforcement officers established by the Department
of Criminal Justice Services pursuant to Chapter 1 (§9.1-100 et seq.) of Title
9.1.
The ranger may
preserve law and order The
rangers may exercise the powers and duties conferred by law upon police
officers of cities, towns, or counties, and shall be so deemed, including but
not limited to the provisions of Chapters 5 (§19.2-52 et seq.), 7 (§19.2-71
et seq.), and 23 (§19.2-387 et seq.) of Title 19.2 on any
premises that is part of the Southwest Regional Recreation Area, any
immediately adjacent property of landowners who are making land available for
public use under agreement with the Authority, and on streets, highways, or
other public lands utilized by the trails, parking areas, or related
recreational facilities and other immediately adjacent public lands. The assignment of
rangers to the duties authorized by this section shall not supersede the
authority of any law-enforcement officers. The salary of
all rangers shall be paid by the board. The board shall furnish each ranger
with an official uniform to be worn while on duty and shall furnish and require
each ranger while on duty to wear
a shield with an appropriate inscription and to carry credentials certifying
the person's identity and authority as a ranger. The board may
petition the circuit court pursuant only to a request by the local
law-enforcement agency for concurrent jurisdiction.
§15.2-6021.1.
Investigation of prospective rangers; terms of employment; uniforms, etc.
A. Prior to
appointment as a Southwest Regional
Recreation Authority ranger, each person shall apply to and be investigated by
the board, using any and all necessary resources, to determine whether
the person is responsible, honest, and in all ways capable of performing the duties of a ranger.
B. The salary of all rangers shall be paid by the
board.
C. The board shall furnish each ranger with an official
uniform to be worn while on duty and shall furnish and require each ranger
while on duty to wear a shield with an appropriate inscription and to carry
credentials certifying the person's identity and authority as a ranger.
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