West Virginia Sen. Laura Wakim Chapman said Tuesday House Bill 4433 would help discourage human trafficking -- Photo Courtesy/WV Legislative Photography

CHARLESTON – The West Virginia Senate amended and passed a House of Delegates bill strengthening human trafficking penalties and adding a new provision aimed at those helping smuggle undocumented immigrants, but the House will need to sign off on the changes.

The Senate approved House Bill 4433, prohibiting human smuggling and trafficking, in a 30-2 vote Tuesday with two absent or not voting. The bill now goes back to the House for that body to concur or reject the amendments.

HB 4433 aims to criminalize human smuggling and increase penalties for human trafficking. The new crime of human smuggling is added and classified as a felony. The bill also increases penalties if the smuggled individual is a minor.

Full details will be included in Wednesday’s edition.