SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 31
(By Senators Kessler, Helmick, Prezioso, Boley, McKenzie, Minard,
McCabe, Unger, Jenkins, Dempsey, Minear and Hunter)
Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance study how
strengthening families economically can help at-risk children
and youth.
Whereas, Strategies, such as workforce development, family
economic supports and community investment, help reduce risk
factors faced by children and youth today and families to become
self-sustaining; and
Whereas, The federal Earned Income Tax Credit for low-income
wage earners provides up to $4,300 per year for low-income families
with a three-year look-back period. Yet an estimated 46,000 West
Virginians who were eligible did not claim the Earned Income Tax
Credit in 2002, resulting in over $77 million in federal dollars
being unclaimed for that year alone; and
Whereas, Families can use their Earned Income Tax Credit to
save tax free for an education, a down payment on a home or the
start of a business. Research has shown that children do better
when their families do better; and
Whereas, Business and community efforts to provide free tax
assistance to low-income West Virginians have been shown to increase participation in the federal Earned Income Tax Credit; and
Whereas, Increasing participation in the federal Earned Income
Tax Credit by low-income West Virginians would provide a new source
of revenue for the state and pump needed dollars into the state's
economy. A small state investment in helping low-income West
Virginians could result in an economic windfall for the state; and
Whereas, Investing in the provision of free tax assistance,
asset building programs and financial literacy training could
likely attract matching grants from major funders; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
The Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby
requested to study how strengthening families economically can help
at-risk children and youth; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and
Finance report to the regular session of the Legislature, 2006, on
its findings, conclusions and recommendations, together with drafts
of any legislation 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 from legislative appropriations to the Joint Committee on
Government and Finance.
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