HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 79
(By Delegates Webster, Azinger, Brown, Burdiss, Eldridge, Ellem.
Ellis, Fleischauer, Guthrie, Hamilton, Hrutkay, Kessler, Lane,
Long, Longstreth, Mahan, Miley, Moore, Overington, Pino,
Proudfoot, Schadler, Shook, Sobonya, Stemple, Tabb and Varner)
Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance study West
Virginia's costs for incarceration.
Whereas, In the Seventy-eighth Legislature of West Virginia, a
number of bills were introduced in the Legislature designed to
address the burden of the cost of incarceration for state, county,
local and municipal organizations; and
Whereas, These proposed pieces of legislation appear to reflect
a perception and recognition that the cost of incarceration for
political subdivisions in West Virginia is a growing financial
burden and concern, with a growing need to address, understand and
better share the costs of incarceration; and
Whereas, Rising costs of incarceration threaten the economic
stability and viability of respective political subdivisions who
currently bear the cost of incarceration, often diverting public
funds from other necessary governmental functions and obligations,
causing debt and onerous financial strain which the political
subdivisions of West Virginia often find difficult to bear; and
Whereas, Proper, appropriate and economically viable facilities
of incarceration are an essential aspect of government at every
level; and
Whereas, Paying for the cost of incarceration for political
subdivisions is a necessary and proper governmental function; and
Whereas, The costs of incarceration should bear an equitable
relationship to use and facility, which equity many political
subdivisions in West Virginia feel is not balanced; and
Whereas, Despite the efforts of the Seventy-eighth Legislature
in the year two-thousand and seven, problems continue to exist
which need to be studied; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is
requested to study West Virginia's incarceration costs, the methods
for levying payment of those costs on prospective political
subdivisions in West Virginia, and feasible methods for equitably
sharing those costs among West Virginia's political subdivisions;
and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and
Finance report to the regular session of the Legislature, 2008, 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, to prepare a report and to draft necessary legislation be
paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint Committee on
Government and Finance.
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