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SB 952

Transferring Court Security Fund

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Mike Oliverio

SB 952 moves court security funding to the Supreme Court, sets governance, limits admin costs, and directs funds to security upgrades and related programs with annual legislative o

Chapter 87, Acts, Regular Session, 2026
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Bill Summary · SB 952

Summary of SB 952 (2026) – Transferring Court Security Fund (West Virginia)

Purpose and intent

  • SB 952 transfers the Court Security Fund from the Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety to the Supreme Court of Appeals.
  • The bill authorizes appropriation by the Legislature to pay the expenses of the court in administering the Court Security Fund.
  • It reorganizes governance of court security funding and eliminates certain legislative rule-making requirements for the Court Security Board.

Key provisions and changes

  • Creation and funding source

    • The Court Security Fund remains a special revenue fund under the Supreme Court of Appeals.
    • Local courts (magistrate and circuit courts) must remit monthly fees and costs related to court security to the State Treasury for deposit into the Court Security Fund, consistent with existing Code sections governing fees ( §§50-3-1, §50-3-2, and §59-1-11).
    • The Fund may also receive gifts, grants, or other designated contributions.
    • Funds in the Court Security Fund are to be expended exclusively to implement security improvement measures described in security plans (pursuant to §51-3-16) and to pay administration expenses of the Supreme Court in administering the fund, subject to annual appropriation. Administration expenses may not exceed the lesser of 3% of the Fund or $30,000 in any fiscal year.
    • Excess funds, if any, may be transferred to other accounts or redesigned for other purposes upon legislative appropriation.

  • Transfer of funds to the Domestic Violence Legal Services Fund

    • After June 30, 2000, the Court Security Fund may transfer amounts as directed by the Legislature to the Domestic Violence Legal Services Fund (as established at §48-26-603). Transferred moneys must be used for purposes specified in that domestic violence fund statute.

  • Court Security Board

    • The Court Security Board is responsible for decisions on how Court Security Fund money is spent to enhance court security.
    • Membership (six voting members + ex officio chair):
    • One circuit court judge (appointed by the judicial association)
    • One magistrate (appointed by the magistrate’s association)
    • One family law judge (appointed by the family court judicial association)
    • One member of the bar (appointed by the president of the West Virginia State Bar)
    • One county representative (appointed by the West Virginia Association of Counties)
    • One sheriff representative (appointed by the West Virginia sheriffs association)
    • The administrative director of the Supreme Court of Appeals serves ex officio as chair.
    • Terms: Four-year terms, with a limit of up to three consecutive terms per member. Vacancies filled to complete the unexpired term.
    • The Board shall compile and maintain a list of able, certified law-enforcement officers (certified under §30-29-5) who can serve as bailiffs in court facilities. This list is to be shared with county sheriffs for recruiting temporary or part-time bailiffs.

  • Promulgation of rules

    • The bill repeals the existing legislative rule-making requirement for the Court Security Board (per §51-3-17, which is repealed). This reduces procedural rule-making requirements on the Board.

  • Effective date

    • The act becomes effective 90 days after passage (June 12, 2026).

Who is affected

  • Courts and court personnel

    • Magistrate and circuit courts: responsible for timely remittance of court security fees into the Fund.
    • Supreme Court of Appeals: administers the Court Security Fund and oversees security improvements and related expenses.
    • Court Security Board members and the ex officio chair (administrative director) participate in funding decisions and program administration.
    • County sheriffs and bailiffs: potential inclusion on the Board’s labor/equipment planning and access to the bailiff-availability list.

  • Law- enforcement and security planning

    • Enhanced coordination for court security improvements funded through the Court Security Fund.

  • Other state funds

    • Potential transfers from the Court Security Fund to the Domestic Violence Legal Services Fund as directed by the Legislature, under §48-26-603.

Timing and procedural notes

  • Enacted March 14, 2026; signed by the Governor; in effect 90 days from passage (June 12, 2026).
  • Various housekeeping changes in governance and rulemaking, including transfer of fund administration to the Supreme Court and exclusion of certain legislative rule-making steps for the Court Security Board.

Bottom line

SB 952 centralizes control of court security funding under the Supreme Court, clarifies and limits administrative costs, streamlines board governance (with a defined, diverse mix of appointed representatives), improves access to qualified bailiffs, and allows for potential redirection of funds to related victim-services programs per legislative direction. The bill emphasizes transparent use of the Court Security Fund for security improvements while ensuring ongoing legislative oversight through annual appropriations.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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