SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 10
(By Senators Tomblin, Mr. President, Bowman, McKenzie, Oliverio,
Anderson, Dittmar, Snyder, Prezioso, Craigo, Macnaughtan, White,
Ross, Bailey, Schoonover, Sharpe, Buckalew, Kimble, Minear, Dugan,
Boley, Ball, Hunter, Chafin and Jackson)
Requesting the joint committee on government and finance to create
a joint committee of members of the Senate and House of
Delegates to investigate the feasibility of decentralizing
government services, to develop recommendations and to report
back to the Legislature.
Whereas, Citizen accessibility to government services has been
more difficult with the increasing complexity of the government
bureaucracy and the spread of suburban development moving citizens
farther away from the urban center where most government services
are located; and
Whereas, As a result of the above, a need exists to improve
access to state government services and to reduce traffic
congestion and driving distance for citizens; and
Whereas, The development of state government offices
throughout the state of West Virginia could provide an easier
access to government processes by providing electronic access
terminals, telephones, telefacisimile, and photocopying machines or
other services for the public to conduct business with state
agencies; and
Whereas, The need exists for a comprehensive feasibility study
to determine the services of and cost effectiveness of establishing
offices for governmental functions throughout the state of West
Virginia; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That there is hereby created a joint committee of the Senate
and House of Delegates consisting of five members of the Senate, to
be designated by the president of the Senate, with no more than
three members from the same political party, and five members of
the House of Delegates, to be designated by the speaker of the
House of Delegates, with no more than three members of the same
political party, and who shall be empowered: (1) To investigate
the feasibility of decentralizing government offices and services
to the public; (2) to ascertain the actual cost and potential
savings if any decentralization were to occur; (3) to hold hearings
thereon; (4) to make findings of facts and conclusions based on
such investigation and hearings; and (5) to make conclusions and
recommendations as to legislation to effect decentralization; and,
be it
Further Resolved, That the committee shall meet in Charleston
or elsewhere, as it may consider necessary or appropriate; and, be
it
Further Resolved, That the committee shall report on or before
the second Wednesday of January, 1998, to the Legislature on its
findings and any recommendations which the committee may deem
proper; 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 legislation appropriation to the joint committee on
government and finance.