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.