Bill > HB3031

This bill establishes a new oversight framework for the West Virginia Fusion Center, a law enforcement intelligence gathering and sharing organization. Effective July 1, 2025, the bill creates a new Joint Oversight Committee composed of members from both the House of Delegates and Senate, ensuring bipartisan representation. The committee will have broad powers to inspect the Fusion Center, conduct confidential meetings, issue subpoenas, and review its operations. Importantly, the Department of Homeland Security's Inspector General will be required to conduct an annual audit of the Fusion Center by September 1st each year, which will assess the center's compliance with applicable rules, statutes, and operating policies. The bill also provides that if the audit reveals intentional disregard of laws or regulations by Fusion Center employees or partners, this could result in employment termination and potential criminal investigation. The committee and its members will be bound by strict confidentiality requirements, and meetings and materials related to the Fusion Center will be exempt from public disclosure laws. The President and Speaker of the respective legislative bodies will have the authority to call Fusion Center employees to testify at committee meetings, enhancing transparency and accountability of this intelligence organization.