HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 150

(By Delegates Miller, Espinosa, Ashley, Bates, Hanshaw, Lane, Morgan, Stansbury, and Westfall)

[Originating in the Committee on Small Business, Entrepreneurship and Economic Development]

[March 12, 2015]

Requesting that the Joint Committee on Government and Finance study the distribution of unemployment rates across the state’s fifty-five counties, the availability of money and other resources to stimulate economic growth in the state’s counties and whether additional money or other resources should be made available to stimulate economic growth in counties with the highest rates of unemployment.

            Whereas, The state’s fifty-five counties suffer from differing rates of unemployment; and

            Whereas, The state has created various programs to stimulate economic growth in the state’s counties; and

            Whereas, Despite these programs, the state’s most depressed counties continue to suffer from unacceptably high rates of unemployment; and

            Whereas, Additional money or other resources, wisely applied, might stimulate growth in the state’s most depressed counties and reduce their rates of unemployment; therefore, be it

            Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

            That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby requested to study the distribution of unemployment rates across the state’s fifty-five counties, the availability of money and other resources to stimulate economic growth in the state’s counties and whether additional money or other resources should be made available to stimulate economic growth in counties with the highest rates of unemployment; and, be it

            Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance report to the Legislature, on the first day of the regular session, 2016, on its findings, conclusions and recommendations together with drafts of any legislation 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.