SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 41
(Originating in Committee on Health and Human Services)
Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance conduct
a study into requiring a back-up energy source for
electrically powered equipment providing life-saving medical
services.
Whereas, Facilities that offer kidney dialysis and other
life-saving services may not have backup sources of energy for
when the electricity goes out; and
Whereas, Winter snowstorms often leave West Virginians
without power for extended periods of time; and
Whereas, Snowstorms often render parts of West Virginia
without power for more than eight hours; and
Whereas, A Fayette County woman's life was placed in
jeopardy because she was unable to get her kidney dialysis in
time and would have died if not for caring and compassionate
neighbors who saved her life by transporting her to a Raleigh
County hospital that offered kidney dialysis and had a backup
source of power; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Legislature hereby requests the Joint Committee on
Government and Finance review, examine and study the status of
facilities offering kidney dialysis or other machines providing
life-saving services, determine the number of such facilities
which do have back-up energy and what type of backup power source
requirements would be appropriate to help ensure uninterrupted
provision of life-preserving health services;
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and
Finance report to the regular session of the Legislature, 2001,
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.