H. B. 2911

          (By Delegates Folk, Householder, Frich, Kump, Faircloth, Lynch, Williams, Butler, Cooper, Cadle and Shott)

          [Introduced March 12, 2013; referred to the
          Committee on the Judiciary.]


A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §61-7-4a, relating to dangerous weapons; license to carry a concealed weapon; and providing an exemption of license information from disclosure under the West Virginia Freedom of Information Act.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
     That the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended by adding thereto a new section, designated §61-7-4a, to read as follows:
ARTICLE 7. DANGEROUS WEAPONS.
§61-7-4a. Public disclosure of license information; exceptions.
_____(a) All records pertaining to the issuance, renewal, expiration, suspension or revocation of a license to carry a concealed weapon, including names and addresses of applicants, licensees and past licensees; all records obtained pursuant to any investigation into the application for a license by any sheriff or agent or employee thereof; and all records pertaining to a criminal or mental health history check conducted on any applicant, licensee or past licensee, are exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act, article one, chapter twenty-nine-b of this code.
_____(b) Information or other records otherwise exempted may be released to a law-enforcement agency to assist in a criminal investigation or prosecution or to determine the validity of or eligibility for a license. The name of an applicant, licensee or past licensee may be released as contained in investigative or arrest reports of a law-enforcement agency that are subject to release as public records.

     NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to exempt records of concealed weapon license applications and issuance from disclosure under the West Virginia Freedom of Information Act.

     §61-7-4a is new; therefore, it has been completely underscored.