Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 45
(By Senators Prezioso, Bailey, Edgell, Foster, Hunter, Helmick,
Kessler, Unger, Barnes, Boley, Guills, McKenzie and Plymale)
Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance
reconstitute Select Committee A on Children, Juveniles and
Other Matters during the interim period of the Seventy-Eighth
Legislature.
Whereas, Select Committee A was appointed following the
conclusion of the 2005 Regular Session of the Seventy-Seventh
Legislature of West Virginia in response to a growing need for
immediate oversight of child welfare matters; and
Whereas, In its two year history, Select Committee A has begun
the process of a comprehensive review of the child welfare service
delivery within the Bureau for Children and Families; and
Whereas, During the course of its work, Select Committee A has
been assigned to study topics such as recruitment and retention of
Child Protective Service's workers, child advocacy center criteria,
parking accessibility issues, volunteer firefighters and other
important issues related to the protection of children and
juveniles; and
Whereas, The efforts of Select Committee A have improved the
delivery of services of child welfare services; and
Whereas, Select Committee A had a strong interest in continuing to address, among other matters, strengthening
investigation options in child abuse and neglect matters,
increasing penalties for individuals convicted of child abuse and
neglect and addressing the problem of drug and alcohol abuse by
parents relative to child abuse and neglect; and
Whereas, Legislation was passed during the Second
Extraordinary Session of the 2006 Legislature containing proposals
originally suggested to the Legislature by Select Committee A,
including the implementation of a child abuse registry and the
development of a special victim's unit within the State Police; and
Whereas, The work of Select Committee A should be
uninterrupted to provide continued protection to children and
families during the next interim period; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Legislature hereby requests the Joint Committee on
Government and Finance to reconstitute Select Committee A on
Children, Juveniles and Other Matters during the interim period of
the Seventy-Eighth Legislature; and, be it
Further Resolved, That Select Committee A report to the
regular session of the Legislature, 2008, on its findings,
conclusions and recommendations, including 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.