HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 113

(By Delegates Ellington, Lane, Evans E., Longstreth, Miller R., Atkinson, Hollen, Hornbuckle, Queen, Byrd, Bates, Canestraro, and Rowe)

[Introduced March 9, 2018; Referred to the Committee on Rules]

  Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance study the health outcomes of high sugar diets, and the short-term and long-term health and economic benefits of a sugar drink tax.

Whereas, 37.7 percent of West Virginians are obese, which ranks West Virginia the highest nationally; and

Whereas, West Virginia ranks fourth nationally in obesity-attributable costs of absenteeism in the workforce; and

Whereas, More than one in seven West Virginia adults have diabetes (15.0 percent), which ranks West Virginia the highest nationally; and

Whereas, 35.1 percent of West Virginia children age 10 to 17 are overweight or obese, which ranks West Virginia the seventh worst nationally; and

Whereas, West Virginia has the highest prevalence in the nation of adults reporting fair or poor health (25.9 percent); and

Whereas, The combination of rising health care costs and an unhealthy population put a financial strain on PEIA as well as private insurers; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby requested to study the health outcomes of high sugar diets and  short-term and long-term health and economic benefits of a sugar drink tax; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the study include the examination of the economic impact on businesses, including those located in border counties, while also considering the healthy initiatives currently being implemented in our surrounding states and potential health care cost savings to the State of West Virginia; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the study investigate possible uses of the inevitable revenue stream created by the tax; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance report to the regular session of the Legislature, 2019, on its findings, conclusions and recommendations, together with drafts of any legislation necessary to effectuate its recommendations; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct this study be paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance.