SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 71

                              (By Senator Takubo)                 

[Introduced March 12, 2016]

Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to study the specific line item reporting of TANF spending in West Virginia.

            Whereas, States such as Minnesota report their TANF expenditures with more specific details than the State of West Virginia; and

            Whereas, Providing specific details in regard to TANF expenditures will provide the state legislature a clearer picture of West Virginia families impacted by TANF programs; and

            Whereas, It would clearly benefit public policy decisions aimed at addressing poverty for the state legislature to better understand West Virginia families impacted by the TANF program which specific reporting details will support; and

            Whereas, It would clearly benefit public policy decisions aimed at addressing poverty for the state legislature to have specific details on TANF spending in all reporting areas, both Maintenance of Effort and Federal TANF dollars; and therefore, be it

            Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

            The Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby requested to study the benefits of specific and detailed reporting of TANF spending in West Virginia; and be it

            Further Resolved, For the study to include, but not limited to, all areas of TANF expenditures beginning with 2014; and be it

            Further Resolved, The study should include information about poverty levels in West Virginia compared to historical increases and/or decreases in West Virginia’s MOE TANF contribution; and be it

            Further Resolved, The study should include thorough discussion about the amount of TANF expenditures supporting “Work Related Activities” and West Virginia’s Work Rate under the TANF program; 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 the legislative appropriations to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance.