HOUSE RESOLUTION 26

(By Delegate Linville)

[Introduced April 8, 2021]

Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to study the extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic has revealed efficiencies and/or inefficiencies in the executive branch of government of West Virginia, particularly with respect to the manner by which state agencies may be able to reduce their physical footprint and invoke other cost-savings measures as a result of efficiencies and/or inefficiencies which were discovered as a result of the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Whereas, The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in fewer government employees working out of government-leased and/or government-owned offices; and

Whereas, Certain state agencies have adopted and/or invested in technology which would allow certain employees to work remotely with the same level of integrity and efficiency as if they were working out of a state-run office; and

Whereas, The Legislature expects that certain classes of state jobs and positions could be classified as remote work positions without any loss in productivity or efficiency; and

Whereas, A reduction of certain state agency’s physical footprints would result in an overall cost savings to the citizens of West Virginia, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Delegates:

That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance shall undertake a study of efficiencies and/or inefficiencies which were discovered as a result of the various state agencies’ responses to the COVID-19 pandemic; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance shall detail and report to the Legislature what efficiencies and/or inefficiencies state agencies have discovered as a result of their responses to the COVID-19 pandemic; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance shall identify jobs and/or positions which could be reclassified to remote work jobs and/or positions without any loss in productivity or integrity; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance shall identify which state agencies’ facilities were under 50 percent occupancy for more than 60 days; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance shall endeavor to identify any other measures which the various state agencies of West Virginia have incorporated as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and which measures could be extended permanently without any loss in productivity or integrity and at a cost savings to the citizens of West Virginia; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance shall report to the regular session of the Legislature, 2022, on its findings, conclusions, and recommendations, together with drafts of any legislation or resolutions necessary 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 form the legislative appropriations to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance.