SB 225: Expanding powers of National Park Service law-enforcement officers - West Virginia

sb225 h jud am _1 adopted.htm → sb225 sfat martin _1 4-11 adopted.htm · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was amended to replace the original committee substitute entirely with a new version that expands the list of federal law enforcement officers authorized to carry firearms and enforce state laws, while also clarifying and expanding the independent investigation authority for National Park Service and Forest Service officers.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to include additional federal law enforcement agencies and clarified the independent investigation authority for specific federal officers on federal lands.

ELIGIBILITY

The list of federal law enforcement officers authorized to carry firearms and enforce state laws was expanded to include United States Fish and Wildlife special agents, Diplomatic Security Service special agents, Coast Guard special agents, Customs and Border Protection law-enforcement agents and officers, Department of Defense special agents, Federal Protective Service officers, Federal Bureau of Prisons officers, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement special agents and law-enforcement.

The original list of federal law enforcement officers was removed and replaced with the new expanded list, eliminating references to FBI special agents, DEA special agents, United States Marshals Service marshals, United States Postal Service inspectors, Internal Revenue Service special agents, United States Secret Service special agents, Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms special agents, and Police officers employed at the FBI's criminal justice information services division facility.

ENFORCEMENT

New language was added establishing that National Park Service and United States Forest Service officers have authority to undertake independent investigations, but only for activities occurring on lands managed and overseen by those agencies.

Committee Substitute → sb225 h jud am _1 adopted.htm · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to expand federal law enforcement authority in West Virginia by adding 10 new federal agencies to the list of officers who can enforce state laws, adding a new provision for U.S. Forest Service officers, and clarifying investigation limitations for these federal officers.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from 12 federal agencies to 22 federal agencies, and added U.S. Forest Service officers to the list of federal law enforcement personnel with state law enforcement authority.

SCOPE

Added 10 new federal agencies including U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Diplomatic Security Service, Coast Guard, Customs and Border Protection, Department of Defense, Federal Protective Service, Federal Bureau of Prisons, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement to the list of federal officers authorized to enforce state laws.

ENFORCEMENT

Added new subsection (d) granting U.S. Forest Service law enforcement officers the same arrest, search, and seizure powers as National Park Service rangers within national forests and federally managed lands.

Expanded the exception allowing independent investigations to include both National Park Service rangers and U.S. Forest Service officers, while adding a limitation that these officers cannot investigate matters unrelated to activities on their respective federal lands.

ELIGIBILITY

Reordered and renumbered the list of eligible federal agencies, adding new entries at the end of the original list.

Enrolled Committee Substitute → Committee Substitute · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was reformatted and reorganized, with the primary substantive change being the addition of National Park Service commissioned rangers to the list of federal officers authorized to conduct independent investigations on federal lands. The bill also updated the numbering sequence for federal law enforcement agencies and added a new provision regarding federal tort claims and liability immunities for officers acting under this authority.

Scope change

The scope of independent investigative authority was expanded to include National Park Service commissioned rangers, who were previously excluded from this specific power under the original text.

ENFORCEMENT

National Park Service commissioned rangers were added to the list of federal officers who may conduct independent investigations on federal lands.

The numbering sequence for federal law enforcement agencies was reorganized to place National Park Service rangers earlier in the list.

DEFINITION

New provisions were added clarifying that officers acting under this authority are subject to the Federal Tort Claims Act and have the same immunities from liability as state or local law enforcement officers.

Introduced Version → Enrolled Committee Substitute · 3 edits · Apr 29, 2025

MINOR

This bill expands the number of federal law enforcement agencies authorized to enforce state laws in West Virginia and clarifies the powers of National Park Service and Forest Service rangers. Previously, only 12 federal agencies were listed, but this version adds 7 more agencies including Fish and Wildlife, Diplomatic Security, Coast Guard, Customs and Border Protection, Defense, Federal Protective Service, Bureau of Prisons, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Additionally, National Park Service and Forest Service rangers now have explicit authority to conduct independent investigations on federal lands, whereas previously they could only preserve evidence after a felony occurred.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from 12 federal law enforcement agencies to 19 agencies, and extended authority to include traffic and parking violations for Park Service and Forest Service rangers on federal lands.

ELIGIBILITY

Added seven new federal law enforcement agencies to the list of officers authorized to enforce state laws: Fish and Wildlife, Diplomatic Security, Coast Guard, Customs and Border Protection, Defense, Federal Protective Service, Bureau of Prisons, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

ENFORCEMENT

National Park Service and Forest Service rangers now have explicit authority to conduct independent investigations on federal lands, whereas previously they could only preserve evidence immediately following a felony.

Expanded Park Service and Forest Service ranger authority to include all state laws (not just felonies) when committed on federal lands managed by these agencies.

Expanding powers of National Park Service law-enforcement officers

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