SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 12

(By Senators Blatnik, Walker, Craigo, Bailey, Chafin,
Helmick, Jackson, Love, Macnaughtan, Manchin, Plymale,
Sharpe, Whitlow, Boley, Dugan, Kimble and Minear)

[Originating in the Committee on Finance;
reported February 3, 1995.]

Creating a special joint interim committee to develop a program for juvenile offenders and converting the Colin Anderson Center, hereinafter referred to as the Center, into a facility to be used for that program, including, but not limited to, program development, program financing, facility conversion costs and maintenance costs.
Whereas, The courts have mandated the transfer of thirty- seven current residents of the Center by the thirty-first day of December, one thousand nine hundred ninety-six, and such mandate further directs that alternative placements be offered to the remaining residents of the Center by that date; and
Whereas, The closure of the Center may result in the loss of some jobs, thereby having a significant impact on the economy of the local community; and
Whereas, The state is currently spending approximately twelve million dollars annually for the treatment of juveniles in out-of-state facilities pursuant to court mandates. Therefore, the state hasa significant interest in developing appropriate facilities for such juveniles presently receiving treatment in out-of-state facilities; and
Whereas, Supreme Court Chief Justice Richard Neely has expressed both his unqualified support and his best efforts in obtaining the support of the state judicial system for the development of such a program as well as his commitment to perform any and all acts within his power to effectuate the development of such a program; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That a special interim committee be created to be known as the "Juvenile Program Development Committee" which shall consist of the following members: Three members of the Senate to be appointed by the president, with one such member to be designated by the president as cochair; three members of the House of Delegates to be appointed by the speaker, with one such member to be designated by the speaker as cochair; and seven citizen members jointly appointed by the president and the speaker which, in their discretion, adequately provide for representation by the community, the juvenile justice commission, the court system and the state departments involved in the administration and financing of juvenile related programs; and, be it
Further Resolved, That said committee is authorized to meet at such times and in such places as the cochairs of the committee shall direct and that the committee is authorized to conduct meetings and hearings with such government officials and interested parties as the committee shall deem necessary; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct the committee's study and to prepare appropriate reports, hire necessary experts and prepare recommendations and proposed legislation be paid from the legislative appropriations to the joint committee on government and finance; and, be it
Further Resolved, That said committee is hereby directed to review, examine and study the status of juveniles currently residing in out-of-state facilities, the need for the development of appropriate state programs, the cost of converting the Colin Anderson Center into a juvenile treatment facility, the anticipated economic impact upon the area and the estimated annual costs for the state of West Virginia and present such reports or findings to the Legislature during the 1996 regular session.