COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE

FOR

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 3

By Delegate Cooper

(Originating in the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and Homeland Security
January 21, 2020)

Requesting the West Virginia Department of Veterans Assistance to research and make recommendations regarding construction of a veterans’ nursing home facility in Summers County.

Whereas, West Virginia has one of the highest proportions of its citizens in older age groups and many of these citizens have also served in the armed forces of our country; and

Whereas, There is only one nursing home facility dedicated to the care of veterans in this state and that facility is located in the northern half of the state at considerable distance from many of the state’s communities and residents; and

Whereas, In the West Virginia Code, §16-1B-1, the Legislature finds that construction of an additional 120-bed veterans skilled nursing facility is needed to be located in Beckley, West Virginia, and with a veteran population that has now reached over two hundred twenty thousand, there is an overwhelming need for additional nursing home beds in other areas of our state to accommodate our veterans as they become unable to take care of themselves; and

Whereas, Aging veterans and their families benefit greatly by having access to a full-time residential care facility that is easily accessible in their own region; and

Whereas, The suitability of construction of another facility in the southern portion of West Virginia is properly determined through an investigation of all relevant factors such as, but not limited to, access to the state veterans’ community, site geography, comparative costs for construction and administration of the facility, and the additional economic benefits to the local economy; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Legislature hereby requests the West Virginia Department of Veterans Assistance to research and make recommendations regarding construction of a veterans’ nursing home facility in Summers County; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Legislature hereby requests the department to submit a written report of its research and findings to the Legislature by December 31, 2020; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates forward a copy of this resolution to the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Assistance.