CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Gov. Jim Justice signed 25 bills into law Tuesday, with five pieces of legislation going into effect immediately after it was approved by the governor.
One of the bills signed by Justice is Senate Bill 288, which increases the penalties for a parent, guardian or custodian convicted of the death of a child from 10-40 years to 20-80 years.
The law is named “Emmaleigh’s Law” after Emmaleigh Barringer, a 10-month-old from Jackson County who was struck and sexually assaulted.
According to the state Medical Examiner’s Office, Emmaleigh died of a skull fracture.
Benjamin Taylor, 32, was indicted on Oct. 25 on charges related to the crime.
Senate President Mitch Carmichael, R-Jackson, was the bill’s sponsor.
Justice has 15 days to approve or veto a bill once it is submitted to his office. If the governor does not act, the bill becomes a law without his signature.