Bill > SB609

This bill modifies existing West Virginia law regarding trespassing on higher education institution premises by simplifying and broadening definitions and enforcement mechanisms. The bill removes specific definitions for "residence hall" and "student facility" and replaces them with a more comprehensive definition of "premises" as any property owned, operated, or leased by an institution of higher education. It also updates the definition of "institution of higher education" to reference an existing statutory definition. The most significant change is in the enforcement provisions, where the bill removes detailed language about who is authorized to be in a residence hall or facility and instead adds a provision allowing courts to prohibit individuals convicted of certain trespassing offenses from being present on the property of a state higher education institution. By doing so, the bill provides institutions more flexibility in managing access to their premises and gives courts an additional tool to address repeated trespassing incidents. The changes aim to clarify and streamline the legal approach to trespassing on educational institution properties.