Bill > HB5419

This bill expands the definition of "law-enforcement officer" to include canine units and other animals trained for law enforcement purposes or as part of a community search and rescue group under the West Virginia Emergency Management Search and Rescue Program, specifically when they are actively assisting human officers or search and rescue members in the field or resting between assignments. It also clarifies that if someone is forced to defend such an animal, they can use the same reasonable force they would use to protect a human officer or search and rescue member. Importantly, while these animals are treated as law enforcement officers for the purposes of crimes against them, they are not considered state employees and do not receive administrative protections or personnel status. The bill also amends existing laws to ensure that crimes committed against these working animals carry the same penalties as if they were committed against a human law-enforcement officer, including malicious assault, unlawful assault, battery, and simple assault, with penalties ranging from fines and jail time to lengthy prison sentences depending on the severity of the offense.

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http://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/Bills_history.cfm?input=5419&year=2026&sessiontype=RS&btype=bill