Criminal Justice (People with Disabilities)

HB 5198 amends West Virginia's hate crime law to explicitly include "disability" as a protected class alongside race, sex, and other characteristics. It increases penalties for crimes motivated by disability bias - such as violence or intimidation - by classifying such acts as felonies punishable by fines up to $5,000 or 10 years in prison. The bill applies to all individuals with disabilities as defined under state law (§16B-17-3), directly affecting victims of disability-targeted crimes and holding perpetrators accountable under existing hate crime provisions.

HB 4554 would establish a voluntary registry for individuals with certain disabilities - such as autism, Alzheimer’s, or Down syndrome - to help law enforcement better interact with them during encounters. People with disabilities, or their parents/guardians for minors or incapacitated adults, could enroll by providing medical certification (e.g., from a doctor or psychologist) or legal documentation (e.g., court orders or guardianship papers). The registry, maintained by local law enforcement, would include personal details and disability information but remain confidential and exempt from public disclosure. Individuals could request removal from the registry at any time, with law enforcement required to comply within five business days.