HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 53

(By Delegates Amores, Anderson, Argento, Ashley, Azinger, Barker, Beach, Beane, Blair, Boggs, Border, Brown, Browning, Butcher Campbell, Cann, Canterbury, Caputo, Carmichael, Craig, Crosier, DeLong, Doyle, Eldridge, Ellem, Ennis, Evans, Frich, Hall, Hamilton, Hartman, Houston, Howard, Hrutkay, Hunt, Iaquinta, Kominar, Lane, Leach, Long, Longstreth, Louisos, Mahan, Manchin, Marshall, Martin, Miley, Moore, Morgan, Overington, Palumbo, Paxton, Perdue, Perry, Pethtel, Pino, Poling, Porter, Proudfoot, Roberts, Schadler, Sobonya, Spencer, Stalnaker, Staton, Stemple, Stephens, Sumner, Susman, Swartzmiller, Talbott, Tansill, R. M. Thompson, R. Thompson, Trump, Tucker, Varner, Wakim, Webster, Wells, G. White H. White, Williams, Wysong and Yost)




Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to study various economic development, taxation, and other policies aimed at promoting wage adequacy.

Whereas, Adequate wages and benefits are vital to family, individual, and community well-being; and
Whereas, The Census Bureau reported in 2004 median household income in West Virginia is the lowest in the nation ($31,210) and more than $10,000 below the national median household income (of $43,318); and
Whereas, Nearly one in four children in West Virginia live in poverty; and
Whereas, Approximately half of all children attending primary and secondary schools in West Virginia qualify for free or reduced school lunches due to low family incomes; and
Whereas, A shortage of jobs paying adequate wages to support families has contributed to such demographic trends as a decline of 28% in the population of West Virginians under age 18 between 1980 and 2000; and
Whereas, In 2004 the West Virginia Legislature mandated the calculation of a self sufficiency standard to determine wage adequacy for various families in all counties as a means to assist individuals and inform public policy; and
Whereas, Previous efforts to promote economic development have not always had clear standards of job quality and/or accountability; and
Whereas, By 2003, 43 states, 41 cities, and 5 counties had begun applying job quality standards to companies that receive economic development subsidies; and
Whereas, The job quality standards adopted by these jurisdiction include wage, health care, and full-time hour requirements; and
Whereas, Research has found that job quality standards do not harm business climates; and
Whereas, West Virginia families would benefit from researching and applying best practices, legislation, and policies to promote substainable family wages and benefits developed in other jurisdictions; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby requested to appoint a select committee to study various economic development, taxation, and other policies aimed at promoting wage adequacy; and, be it
Further Resolved, That this select committee will report to the regular session of the Legislature, 2006, 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.