Clarifying law-enforcement cooperation with bordering states

Added a new subsection allowing the head of a law enforcement agency to receive temporary assistance from an adjoining state's agency upon written request.

Changed the filing requirement so that agreements remain in effect immediately upon creation rather than only after being filed with a circuit clerk, though filing is still required for them to be sealed.

Added new subsections clarifying that this article does not affect civil service protections, jurisdiction, or authorize the permanent merger of law enforcement agencies.

Updated definitions to remove the requirement that agencies must be 'incorporated' municipalities and clarified that the Division of Forestry is a law enforcement agency.

The definition of 'Law-enforcement agency' was expanded to explicitly include agencies from adjoining states and political subdivisions of those states.

New subsection (d) was added to require that all cooperation agreements be filed with the circuit clerk of the relevant county to remain in effect.

New subsection (e) and (f) were added to clarify that the bill does not authorize agency mergers, eliminate operations, or alter civil service protections.

The text was restructured from a continuous narrative with lettered subsections to a numbered list format for better readability, and official legislative headers were removed.

Added a new subsection (e) explicitly stating that the law does not affect civil service protections or jurisdiction, preventing unintended legal consequences for officers.

Added a new subsection (f) explicitly prohibiting the permanent consolidation or merger of law enforcement agencies as a result of this cooperation.

Updated the definition of 'Criminal justice enforcement personnel' to explicitly include individuals from adjoining states who are employed by a law-enforcement agency.

Refined the definition of 'Law-enforcement agency' to clarify that it includes the Office of the Sheriff of any West Virginia county.

Added a new provision allowing West Virginia agencies to request and receive assistance from adjoining states, creating a reciprocal relationship rather than a one-way arrangement.