Bill Amendment: WV HB5662 | 2024 | Regular Session
Bill Title: Relating to adding “person in a position of trust” to certain crimes
Status: 2024-04-22 - Chapter 91, Acts, Regular Session, 2024 [HB5662 Detail]
Download: West_Virginia-2024-HB5662-hb5662_s_jud_am_1_2-29_adopted.html
HB5662 S JUD AM #1 2-29
Curia 7824
The Committee on the Judiciary moved to amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and inserting in lieu thereof the following:
ARTICLE 8D. CHILD ABUSE.
§61-8D-1. Definitions.
In this article, unless a different meaning is plainly required:
(1) "Abuse" means the infliction upon a minor of physical injury by other than accidental means.
(2) "Child" means any person under eighteen years of age not otherwise emancipated by law.
(3) "Controlled substance" means controlled substance as that term is defined in subsection (d), section one hundred one, article one, chapter sixty-a of this code §60A-1-101(d) of this code.
(4) "Custodian" means a person over the age of fourteen 14 years who has or shares actual physical possession or care and custody of a child on a full-time or temporary basis, regardless of whether such that person has been granted custody of the child by any contract, agreement, or legal proceeding. "Custodian" shall also include, but not be limited to, the spouse of a parent, guardian or custodian, or a person cohabiting with a parent, guardian or custodian in the relationship of husband and wife, where such the spouse or other person shares actual physical possession or care and custody of a child with the parent, guardian or custodian.
(5) "Guardian" means a person who has care and custody of a child as the result of any contract, agreement or legal proceeding.
(6) "Gross neglect" means reckless or intentional conduct, behavior, or inaction by a parent, guardian or custodian, or person in a position of trust in relation to a child, that evidences a clear disregard for a minor child's health, safety, or welfare.
(7) "Neglect" means the unreasonable failure by a parent, guardian or custodian, or person in a position of trust in relation to a child, of a minor child to exercise a minimum degree of care to assure the minor child's physical safety or health. For purposes of this article, the following do not constitute "neglect" by a parent, guardian or custodian, or person in a position of trust in relation to a child:
(A) Permitting a minor child to participate in athletic activities or other similar activities that if done properly are not inherently dangerous, regardless of whether that participation creates a risk of bodily injury;
(B) Exercising discretion in choosing a lawful method of educating a minor child; or
(C) Exercising discretion in making decisions regarding the nutrition and medical care provided to a minor child based upon religious conviction or reasonable personal belief.
(8) "Parent" means the biological father or mother of a child, or the adoptive mother or father of a child.
(9) "Sexual contact" means sexual contact as that term is defined in section one, article eight-b, chapter sixty-one of this code §61-8B-1 of this code.
(10) "Sexual exploitation" means an act whereby:
(A) A parent, custodian, guardian or other person in a position of trust to a child, whether for financial gain or not, persuades, induces, entices or coerces the child to engage in sexually explicit conduct as that term is defined in section one, article eight-c, chapter sixty-one of this code §61-8C-1 of this code; or
(B) A parent, guardian, custodian or other person in a position of trust in relation to a child persuades, induces, entices, or coerces the child to display his or her sex organs for the sexual gratification of the parent, guardian, custodian, person in a position of trust or a third person, or to display his or her sex organs under circumstances in which the parent, guardian, custodian or other person in a position of trust knows such the display is likely to be observed by others who would be affronted or alarmed.
(11) "Sexual intercourse" means sexual intercourse as that term is defined in section one, article eight-b, chapter sixty-one of this code §61-8B-1 of this code.
(12) "Sexual intrusion" means sexual intrusion as that term is defined in section one, article eight-b, chapter sixty-one of this code §61-8B-1 of this code.
(13) A "person in a position of trust in relation to a child" refers to any person who, under law or agreement, is acting in the place of a parent and charged with any of a parent's rights, duties, or responsibilities concerning a child or someone responsible for the general supervision of a child's welfare, or any person who by virtue of their his or her occupation or position is charged with any duty or responsibility for the health, education, welfare, or supervision of the child.
61-8D-2. Murder of a child by a parent, guardian or custodian or other person, or person in a position of trust in relation to a child, by refusal or failure to supply necessities, or by delivery, administration or ingestion of a controlled substance; penalties.
(a) If any parent, guardian or custodian, or person in a position of trust in relation to a child, shall maliciously and intentionally cause the death of a child under his or her care, custody or control by his or her failure or refusal to supply such the child with necessary food, clothing, shelter, or medical care, then such the parent, guardian or custodian, or person in a position of trust in relation to a child shall be is guilty of murder in the first degree.
(b) If any parent, guardian or custodian, or person in a position of trust in relation to a child, shall cause the death of a child under his or her care, custody, or control by knowingly allowing any other person to maliciously and intentionally fail or refuse to supply such the child with necessary food, clothing, shelter, or medical care, then such the other person and such the parent, guardian or custodian, or person in a position of trust in relation to a child shall are each be guilty of murder in the first degree.
(c) The penalty for offenses defined by this section shall be that which is prescribed for murder in the first degree under the provisions of section two article, two of this chapter §61-2-2 of this code.
(d) The provisions of this section shall not apply to any parent, guardian or custodian, or person in a position of trust in relation to a child who fails or refuses, or allows another person to fail or refuse, to supply a child under the care, custody, or control of such parent, guardian or custodian, or person in a position of trust in relation to a child with necessary medical care, when such medical care conflicts with the tenets and practices of a recognized religious denomination or order of which such the parent, guardian or custodian, or person in a position of trust in relation to a child is an adherent or member: Provided, That the provisions of this subsection do not apply to a person in a position of trust in relation to a child who, by virtue of his or her occupation or position, is charged with any duty or responsibility for the health, education, welfare, or supervision of a child.
§61-8D-2a. Death of a child by a parent, guardian or custodian or other person or person in a position of trust in relation to a child, by child abuse; criminal penalties.
(a) If any parent, guardian or custodian, or person in a position of trust in relation to a child maliciously and intentionally inflicts upon a child under his or her care, custody, or control substantial physical pain, illness, or any impairment of physical condition by other than accidental means, thereby causing the death of such the child, then such the parent, guardian or custodian, or person in a position of trust in relation to a child is guilty of a felony.
(b) If any parent, guardian or custodian, or person in a position of trust in relation to a child knowingly allows any other person to maliciously and intentionally inflict upon a child under the care, custody or control of such parent, guardian or custodian, or person in a position of trust in relation to a child substantial physical pain, illness or any impairment of physical condition by other than accidental means, which thereby causes the death of such child, then such other person and such parent, guardian or custodian, or person in a position of trust in relation to a child are each guilty of a felony.
(c) Any person convicted of a felony described in subsection (a) or (b) of this section shall be imprisoned in a state correctional facility for a period of fifteen 15 years to life. A person imprisoned pursuant to the provisions of this section is not eligible for parole prior to having served a minimum of fifteen 15 years of his or her sentence.
(d) The provisions of this section are not applicable to any parent, guardian or custodian, or other person who, without malice, fails or refuses, or allows another person to, without malice, fail or refuse, to supply a child under the care, custody or control of such the parent, guardian or custodian with necessary medical care, when such medical care conflicts with the tenets and practices of a recognized religious denomination or order of which such the parent, guardian or custodian is an adherent or member. The provisions of this section are not applicable to any health care provider who fails or refuses, or allows another person to fail or refuse, to supply a child with necessary medical care when such the medical care conflicts with the tenets and practices of a recognized religious denomination or order of which the parent, guardian or custodian of the child is an adherent or member, or where such failure or refusal is pursuant to a properly executed do not resuscitate form.
§61-8D-3. Child abuse resulting in injury; child abuse creating risk of injury; criminal penalties.
(a) If any parent, guardian or custodian, or person in a position of trust in relation to a child shall abuse a child and by such the abuse cause such the child bodily injury as such the term is defined in section one, article eight-b of this chapter §61-8B-1 of this code, then such parent, guardian or custodian, or person in a position of trust in relation to a child shall be is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than $100 nor more than $1,000 and imprisoned in a state correctional facility for not less than one nor more than five years, or in the discretion of the court, be confined in jail for not more than one year.
(b) If any parent, guardian or custodian, or person in a position of trust in relation to a child shall abuse a child and by such the abuse cause said the child serious bodily injury as such that term is defined in section one, article eight-b of this chapter §61-8B-1 of this code, then such parent, guardian or custodian shall be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than $1,000 nor more than $5,000 and committed to the custody of the Division of Corrections not less than two nor more than 10 years.
(c) Any parent, guardian or custodian, or person in a position of trust in relation to a child who abuses a child and by the abuse creates a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury, as serious bodily injury is defined in section one, article eight-b of this chapter §61-8B-1 of this code, to the child is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than $3,000 or imprisoned in a state correctional facility for not less than one nor more than five years, or both.
(d)(1) If a parent, guardian or custodian, or person in a position of trust in relation to a child who has not previously been convicted under this section, section four of this article §61-8D-4 of this code, or a law of another state or the federal government with the same essential elements abuses a child and by the abuse creates a substantial risk of bodily injury, as bodily injury is defined in §61-8B-1, to the child is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than $100 nor more than $1,000 or confined in jail not more than six months, or both.
(2) For a second offense under this subsection or for a person with one prior conviction under this section, section four of this article §61-8D-4 of this code, or a law of another state or the federal government with the same essential elements, the parent, guardian or custodian, or person in a position of trust in relation to a child is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than $1,500 and confined in jail not less than 30 days nor more than one year, or both.
(3) For a third or subsequent offense under this subsection or for a person with two or more prior convictions under this section, section four of this article §61-8D-4 of this code, or a law of another state or the federal government with the same essential elements, the parent, guardian or custodian, or person in a position of trust in relation to a child is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than $3,000 and imprisoned in a state correctional facility not less than one year nor more than three years, or both.
(e) Any person convicted of a misdemeanor offense under this section:
(1) May be required to complete parenting classes, substance abuse counseling, anger management counseling, or other appropriate services, or any combination thereof, as determined by Department of Health and Human Resources, Bureau for Children and Families Department of Human Services through its services assessment evaluation, which shall be submitted to the court of conviction upon written request;
(2) Shall not be required to register pursuant to article thirteen, chapter fifteen of this code §15-13-1, et seq. of this code; and
(3) Shall not, solely by virtue of the conviction, have their his or her custody, visitation, or parental rights automatically restricted.
(f) Nothing in this section shall preclude a parent, guardian or custodian from providing reasonable discipline to a child.
§61-8D-3a. Female genital mutilation; penalties; definitions.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (b) of this section, any person who circumcises, excises or infibulates, in whole or in part, the labia majora, labia minora, or clitoris of a female under the age of eighteen 18, or any parent, guardian or custodian, or person in a position of trust in relation to a child, of a female under the age of 18 who allows the circumcision, excision or infibulation, in whole or in part, of such the female's labia majora, labia minora, or clitoris, shall be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be imprisoned in a state correctional facility for not less than two nor more than 10 years and fined not less than $1,000 nor more than $5,000.
(b) A surgical procedure is not a violation of this section if the procedure:
(1) Is necessary to preserve the health of the child on whom it is performed and is performed by a licensed medical professional authorized to practice medicine in this state; or
(2) The procedure is performed on a child who is in labor or has just given birth and is performed for legitimate medical purposes connected with that labor or birth by a licensed medical professional authorized to practice medicine in this state.
(c) A person's belief that the conduct described in subsection (a) of this section: (i) (1) Is required as a matter of custom, ritual or standard practice; or (ii) (2) was consented to by the female on which the circumcision, excision, or infibulation was performed shall not constitute a defense to criminal prosecution under subsection (a) of this section.
§61-8D-4. Child neglect resulting in injury; child neglect creating risk of injury; criminal penalties.
(a) If a parent, guardian or custodian, or person in a position of trust in relation to a child neglects a child and by such the neglect causes the child bodily injury, as bodily injury is defined in section one, article eight-b of this chapter §61-8B-1 of this code, then the parent, guardian or custodian, or person in a position of trust in relation to a child is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than $100 nor more than $1,000 dollars or imprisoned in a state correctional facility for not less than one nor more than three years, or in the discretion of the court, be confined in jail for not more than one year, or both.
(b) If a parent, guardian or custodian, or person in a position of trust in relation to a child neglects a child and by such neglect cause causes the child serious bodily injury, as serious bodily injury is defined in section one, article eight-b of this chapter §61-8B-1 of this code, then the parent, guardian or custodian, or person in a position of trust in relation to a child is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than $300 nor more than $3,000 dollars or imprisoned in a state correctional facility for not less than one nor more than ten 10 years, or both.
(c) If a parent, guardian or custodian, or person in a position of trust in relation to a child grossly neglects a child and by that gross neglect creates a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury, as serious bodily injury is defined in section one, article eight-b of this chapter §61-8B-1 of this code, of the child then the parent, guardian or custodian, or person in a position of trust in relation to a child is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than $1,000 nor more than $3,000 dollars or imprisoned in a state correctional facility for not less than one nor more than five years, or both.
(d)(1) If a parent, guardian or custodian, or person in a position of trust in relation to a child who has not been previously convicted under this section, section three of this article §61-8D-3 of this code, or a law of another state or the federal government with the same essential elements neglects a child and by that neglect creates a substantial risk of bodily injury, as defined in section one, article eight-b of this chapter §61-8B-1 of this code, to the child, then the parent, guardian or custodian, or person in a position of trust in relation to a child is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, for a first offense, shall be fined not less than $100 nor more than $1,000 or confined in jail not more than six months, or both fined and confined.
(2) For a second offense under this subsection or for a person with one prior conviction under section three of this article §61-8D-3 of this code or a law of another state or the federal government with the same essential elements, the parent, guardian or custodian, or person in a position of trust in relation to a child is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than $1,000 and confined in jail not less than 30 days nor more than one year, or both.
(3) For a third or subsequent offense under this subsection or for a person with two or more prior convictions under this section, section three of this article §61-8D-3 of this code, or a law of another state or the federal government with the same essential elements, the parent, guardian or custodian, or person in a position of trust in relation to a child is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than $2,000 and imprisoned in a state correctional facility not less than one year nor more than three years, or both fined and imprisoned.
(e) The provisions of this section shall not apply if the neglect by the parent, guardian or custodian or person in a position of trust in relation to a child is due primarily to a lack of financial means on the part of such the parent, guardian or custodian or person in a position of trust in relation to a child.
(f) Any person convicted of a misdemeanor offense under this section:
(1) May be required to complete parenting classes, substance abuse counseling, anger management counseling, or other appropriate services, or any combination thereof, as determined by Department of Health and Human Resources, Bureau for Children and Families Department of Human Services through its services assessment evaluation, which shall be submitted to the court of conviction upon written request;
(2) Shall not be required to register pursuant to the requirements of article thirteen, chapter fifteen of this code §15-13-1 of this code; and
(3) Shall not, solely by virtue of the conviction, have their his or her custody, visitation or parental rights automatically restricted.
§61-8D-4a. Child neglect resulting in death; criminal penalties.
(a) If any parent, guardian or custodian, or person in a position of trust in relation to a child shall neglect a child under his or her care, custody or control and by such neglect cause the death of said child, then such parent, guardian or custodian, or person in a position of trust in relation to a child shall be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than $1,000 nor more than $5,000 or committed to the custody of the Division of Corrections for not less than three nor more than 15 years, or both such fine and imprisonment fined and imprisoned.
(b) No child who in lieu of medical treatment was under treatment solely by spiritual means through prayer in accordance with a recognized method of religious healing with a reasonable proven record of success shall, for that reason alone, be considered to have been neglected within the provisions of this section. A method of religious healing shall be presumed to be a recognized method of religious healing if fees and expenses incurred in connection with such the treatment are permitted to be deducted from taxable income as "medical expenses" pursuant to regulations or rules promulgated by the United States Internal Revenue Service: Provided, That the provisions of this subsection do not apply to a person in a position of trust in relation to a child who, by virtue of his or her occupation or position, is charged with any duty or responsibility for the health, education, welfare, or supervision of a child.