SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 37
(By Senators Anderson, Ross, Sharpe,
Dugan, Love, Scott, Yoder and Blatnik)
[Originating in the Committee on Small Business;
reported March 6, 1995.]
Directing the joint committee on government and finance to make
a study of the problems facing small business owners and
entrepreneurs in this state.
Whereas, Small businesses are the backbone of the economy of
this state; and
Whereas, Over ninety-five percent of the businesses in this
state are considered small businesses; and
Whereas, Studies show that two thirds of the new jobs
created nationally are in businesses that employ less than one
hundred people; and
Whereas, There is increasing interest in utilizing the
growth of small business to provide for the employment of the
citizens in this state and to provide needed services to the
citizens of this state; and
Whereas, While significant strides have been made in
improving the business climate for small businesses, there are still many known obstacles facing small businesses, including a
lack of access to capital to start-up and expand the businesses
and a regulatory environment that is unfavorable to small
businesses and there are also many problems facing small
businesses of which the Legislature is unaware; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the joint committee on government and finance is hereby
directed to appoint an interim committee to study the myriad of
problems facing small businesses in this state, to travel to
various areas of the state to meet with small business owners to
listen to their concerns and to learn what obstacles need to be
overcome to foster the survival and growth of small businesses in
this state and to make recommendations to the Legislature
regarding the same; and be it
Further Resolved, That the interim committee appointed by
the joint committee on government and finance shall consist of
twelve members, six of whom shall be members of the committee on
small business in the Senate and six of whom shall be members of
the committee on industry and labor in the House of Delegates;
and, be it
Further Resolved, That the joint committee on government and
finance report to the regular session of the Legislature, 1996, 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 reimburse committee members for travel expenses,
to prepare a report and to draft necessary legislation be paid
from legislative appropriations to the joint committee on
government and finance.