CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - The West Virginia Senate has passed its first bills of the 2013 session, clarifying language on what would disqualify potential jurors and imposing specific and harsher penalties for graffiti.
The jury bill passed Wednesday would disqualify potential jurors who have been found guilty of a crime punishable by more than one year in prison.
The graffiti bill would make graffiti a separate offense from the more generic "crimes against property." It creates sentencing guidelines for graffiti offenses.
A first offense could be punishable with up to six months in jail and $1,000 fine. On a third offense, graffiti would rise from a misdemeanor to a felony and would be punishable by a minimum of one year in jail.
Both bills will now be sent to the House for consideration.
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