CHARLESTON — A Randolph County delegate’s bill that would “strengthen public safety” by creating a statewide registry focused specifically on intimate partner violence is up for consideration in the House of Delegates today.

Jonathan Kyle, R-District 66, introduced House Bill 5341, which cleared the committee stage in both the House Subcommittee on Courts and House Judiciary Committee earlier this week. The bill is now poised for debate and a potential vote in the House of Delegates. The first reading of the bill is scheduled for today.

Kyle said HB 5341 would direct the West Virginia State Police to establish and maintain a registry of individuals convicted of domestic violence offenses against intimate partners. The bill would “recognize and respect” a victim’s experience by taking related criminal information and use it to strengthen public safety. If the bill is passed, West Virginia would become only the second state in the nation to implement such a registry.

“This legislation is about transparency and safety,” Kyle said to The Inter-Mountain in a statement. “By focusing squarely on intimate partner violence and tightening our legal definitions in code, we can take serious steps to stop repeat abusers and protect families across West Virginia.”

According to the most recent version of HB 5341, the State Police would maintain the registry based upon information supplied to them by the court clerks, and will make the registry available on the internet.

Under HB 5341, if a person convicted of an offense committed against an intimate partner, whether physical, sexual or otherwise, has at least one prior conviction for a similar crime, the court will order this person to register as a domestic violence offender. If the court orders a defendant to register, then the court clerk has seven days after the conviction date to forward the offender’s information to the State Police to be added to the registry.

“The registry must consist of the domestic violence offender’s name, date of birth, conviction date, county or counties of convictions and a current photograph of the domestic violence offender,” HB 5341 states. “…However, the registry available for public inquiry must not include the domestic violence offender’s address, social security number, driver license number or any other state or federal identification number.”

The names of victims of domestic violence will not be disclosed in the registry.

HB 5341 would also create the State Police Victims of Domestic Violence Fund, which would be administered by the State Treasury superintendent. The fund would be made available to continue the operations of the registry, and will consist of money from any source, “including, but not limited to, all fees, gifts, grants, bequests or transfers from any source.” This also would include money appropriated and designated for the registry by the Legislature, and all interest or other returns earned from investment of the fund.

Kyle said while this legislation is not his usual area of advocacy, a constituent brought the issue to his attention.

“When someone in our community brings us a serious concern that impacts lives and safety, I believe it’s our responsibility to act,” Kyle said. “This was an important issue for me to learn about and work to correct this session.”

Kyle also emphasized that the registry is designed to support law enforcement and community awareness, but not impose additional punishment beyond existing sentences.

“We want tools that help survivors remain safe and informed without unnecessarily harming rehabilitation or privacy,” Kyle said. “I’ve been pleased to see bipartisan interest and strong advocacy from community stakeholders, and I think this bill will be a significant step forward in reducing intimate partner violence and improving public safety statewide.”

Other sponsors on HB 5341 include delegates Joe Parsons, R-District 16, Geno Chiarelli, R-District 78, Ryan Browning, R-District 028, Erica Moore, R-District 15, Kathie Hess Crouse, R-District 19, Tristan Leavitt, R-District 53, Sarah Drennan, R-District 20, Scot C. Heckert, R-District 13 and Joe Funkhouser, R- District 98.