HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 21

(By DELEGATES HOWELL, BLAIR, COWLES, DUKE, ESPINOSA, EVANS, A., FAIRCLOTH, FLEISCHAUER, FOLK, FRICH, HOUSEHOLDER, KURCABA, FLANIGAN, OVERINGTON, ROWAN, SHAFFER, SKINNER, SMITH, R., STATLER AND UPSON)

January 22, 2016

Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance study the impact of reimbursing the State of Maryland for the use of its helicopter Maryland Trooper Five for runs into West Virginia.

Whereas, The State of West Virginia has its rules set forth in the Code of State Rules; and

Whereas, The State of Maryland maintains a helicopter detachment on West Virginia soil at the Cumberland Regional Airport in Wylie Ford, West Virginia; and

Whereas, Maryland Trooper Five, the helicopter quartered at the Cumberland Regional Airport, makes numerous calls into West Virginia when it is needed, specifically for the purpose of airlifting West Virginia citizens in cases of medical emergency; and

Whereas, Over thirty such flights were made in 2011; and

Whereas, All such flights are made at the expense of the Maryland taxpayer and we have no assurance that this generosity on the part of the voters of the State of Maryland will continue; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Legislature hereby requests the Joint Committee on Government and Finance study the impact of reimbursing the State of Maryland for these important life-saving flights into West Virginia; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance report to the regular session of the Legislature, 2017, 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.