HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 6
(By Delegates Mahan, Fleischauer, Brown, Eldridge, Ennis, Ashley,
Rowan and Schadler)
(Introduced February 17, 2009.)
Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance
reconstitute Select Committee A on Children, Juveniles and
Other Matters during the Interim period of the Seventy-Ninth
Legislature.
Whereas, Select Committee A was appointed following the
conclusion of the two thousand five Regular Session of the Seventy-
seventh Legislature of West Virginia in response to a growing need
for immediate oversight of child welfare matters; and
Whereas, In its two year history Select Committee A has begun
the process of a comprehensive review of the child welfare service
delivery within the Bureau for Children and Families; and
Whereas, During the course of its work Select Committee A has
been assigned to study the topics related to recruitment and
retention of Child Protective Service workers, a study of child
advocacy center criteria, and other important issues related to the
protection of children and juveniles; and
Whereas, The efforts of Select Committee A have improved the
delivery of services of child welfare services; and
Whereas, Select Committee A had a strong interest in continuing
to address, among other matters, strengthening investigation
options in child abuse and neglect matters, increasing penalties
for individuals convicted of child abuse and neglect and addressing
the problem of drug and alcohol abuse by parents relative to child
abuse and neglect; and
Whereas, The provisions of legislation passed during a Special
Session of the Legislature called by Governor Joe Manchin in two
thousand six where proposals originally suggested for passage by
the Legislature by Select Committee A, these include the
implementation of a Child Abuse Registry and the Development of a
Special Victim's Unit within the State Police; and
Whereas, The work of Select Committee A should be continued to
provide continued protection to children and families during the
the next Interim period; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That Select Committee A be reconstituted during the Interim
period of the Seventy-Eighth Legislature to continue its vital work
on issues pertinent to child abuse and neglect; and, be it
Further Resolved, That Select Committee A report to the
regular session of the Legislature, 2010, on its findings,
conclusions and recommendations, including drafts of any recommendations, together with drafts of any legislation necessary
to effectuate its recommendations; and, be it
Further
Resolved, That at times throughout the next interim
period, Select Committee A may seek collaboration with the
Legislative Oversight Committee on Regional Jails and Correctional
Facility Authority and requesting a joint meeting to address issues
the two committees may have in common; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Committee may request periodic
reports from appropriate state agencies, including but not limited
to, the Division of Juvenile Services and the Bureau for Children
and Families within the Department of Health and Human Resources;
and, be it
Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct this
study, to prepare a report and to draft necessary legislation be
paid from the legislative appropriations to the Joint Committee on
Government and Finance.
This resolution was recommenced for
introduction and passage
by Select Committee A - Committee on Children, Juveniles and Other
Issues.
Email
Webmaster | © 2024 West Virginia Legislature **
