SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 11
(By Senators Prezioso, Edgell, Foster, Kessler, Minard,
Stollings, Jenkins and Unger)
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 2005 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 2006
included 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
next interim period; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby
requested to reconstitute Select Committee A on Children, Juveniles
and Other Matters during the interim period of the Seventy-Ninth
Legislature; and, be it
Further Resolved, That throughout the next interim period,
Select Committee A may seek collaboration with the Legislative
Oversight Committee on Regional Jails and Correctional Facility
Authority and request 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 Select Committee A report to the
regular session of the Legislature, 2010, 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 the legislative appropriations to the Joint Committee on
Government and Finance.