HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 44
(By Mr. Speaker, Mr. Kiss and Delegates Border, Beane, Browning,
Hall, Carmichael, Mahan, Varner, Palumbo, Perdue, Doyle and Trump)
Requesting that the Joint Committee on Government and Finance study
alternatives to out-of-state placement of children committed
to the care of the State of West Virginia.
Whereas, The children placed in the care of the State of West
Virginia are an important responsibility of state government; and
Whereas, The treatment, care, rehabilitation and education of
such children should be delivered in a clinically successful and
cost-effective manner; and
Whereas, Hundreds of children in the care of the State of West
Virginia are placed in out-of-state institutions and programs that
often prove costly; and
Whereas, The current annual cost of out-of-state placement is
in excess of twenty million dollars; and
Whereas, The out-of-state placements are frequently a
considerable distance from the families, friends, neighbors and
communities of the children; and
Whereas, The Legislature has passed numerous acts attempting to
reduce the practice of placing children in out-of-state facilities
or institutions and to reduce the cost of such placements, but said
acts have not had the intended effect; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is
requested to study the current practices of out-of-state child
placement and determine alternatives to such placement and the
feasibility of returning those children to the care of the State of
West Virginia programs; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and
Finance is requested to study the current statutes, rules or
regulations regarding the placement of children and determine
whether they are effective, being properly followed or enforced or
if they incorporate the most beneficial strategies, methods and
services to serve the children placed in the care of the State, and
to compare current practices in this State with successful models
in other jurisdictions; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and
Finance is requested to determine whether current programs in West
Virginia place sufficient emphasis on bringing children in the care
of the State to permanency by returning them to their custodial
families or achieving adoptions; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and
Finance is requested to also study programs and methodologies
designed to reduce the length of stays in child placement programs
and achieve definable benchmarks of progress that lead more rapidly
to permanent placements; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and
Finance is requested to determine whether the total amount of state
dollars spent on services for children in the care of the State
could be spent more effectively and efficiently; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and
Finance is requested to report on its findings, conclusions and
recommendations, together with drafts of any legislation necessary
to effectuate its recommendations, to the next regular session of
the Legislature, and, be it
Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to carry out its
duties, to prepare a report and to draft necessary legislation be
paid from the legislative appropriations to the Joint Committee on
Government and Finance.
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