HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 104
(By Delegates Wysong, Argento, Campbell, Fragale, Guthrie,
Hatfield, Marshall, Moye, Perdue, Pethtel, Poling, D.,
Spencer, Stephens, Tabb and Wells)
Requesting that the Joint Committee on Government and Finance
authorize the study of the feasibility of establishing a
Silver Alert notification network for missing elderly citizens
in West Virginia.
WHEREAS, Many elderly persons reach a point where they are no
longer able to care for themselves outside of their home or nursing
home; and
WHEREAS, If a confused elderly person wanders off, they often
are incapable of finding their way back home and may end up
seriously ill or dead before being located; and
WHEREAS, Prompt public notice of a missing person increases
the likelihood that the person will be found in time to avoid
serious harm or death; and
WHEREAS, There are more than 5 million people in the United
States living with Alzheimer's Disease; and
WHEREAS, In 2000, 83,000 West Virginians suffered from
Alzheimer's Disease. That number is expected to increase by 33% by 2010; and
WHEREAS, Six in 10 people suffering from Alzheimer's Disease
or other forms of dementia will wander off at least once; and
WHEREAS, The Silver Alert was designed to quickly determine
descriptive information about a missing adult, so that citizens in
the affected area can be on the lookout for the endangered person
and notify local law enforcement with any relevant information; and
WHEREAS, A Silver Alert notification network has the potential
to bring peace of mind to thousands of West Virginia families whose
loved ones suffer from conditions affecting memory or brain
function; and therefore be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby
requested to study the feasibility of establishing a Silver Alert
notification network for missing elderly citizens in West Virginia;
and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and
Finance report to the Regular Session of the Legislature, 2009, on
its findings, conclusions and recommendations, together with drafts
of any legislation necessary to effectuate its recommendations;
and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Legislative 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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