HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 21
(By Delegates Perdue, Hatfield, Brown, DeLong, Foster, Iaquinta,
Mahan, Paxton, Susman, Webster, Yost, Ashley, Carmichael, Hall,
Howard, Schadler, Sobonya, Sumner and Wakim)
(Originating in the Committee on Health and Human Resources)
[February 5, 2004]
Requesting the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human
Resources to reconsider the flawed award of the current
Donated Vehicles Program in effect through June 30, 2004; to
publically bid the statewide Donated Vehicles Program as of
July 1, 2004; and to initiate proceedings to recoup
appropriate moneys out of the twenty four million dollars
expended by the Department over a three year period for the
discredited and now terminated WHEELS Program.
Whereas, The WHEELS program developed by the West Virginia
Department of Health and Human Resources involved the leasing of
motor vehicles to Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF)
individuals at a monthly rental cost to the TANF recipient; and
Whereas, the Department of Health and Human Resources expended
twenty four million dollars over a three year period for the WHEELS
Program; and
Whereas, the Department of Health and Human Resources later
ascertained that the WHEELS Program resulted in great monetary
benefits to the vendors of the motor vehicles, but very little, if any, benefit to the TANF recipients; and
Whereas, the Department of Health and Human Resources, to its
credit terminated the discredited WHEELS Program and started a new
Donated Vehicles Program, which said Program expires on June 30,
2004; and
Whereas, The Good News Mountaineer Garage originated the highly
successful Donated Vehicles Program, which solicits used cars
donated by private citizens, corporations and organizations and
gives those donated vehicles free of charge to TANF recipients; and
Whereas, the successful history of the Good News Mountaineer
Garage was premised on significant advertising and marketing
throughout the state and the metropolitan area of Washington, D.C.,
with resulting numerous vehicle donors in those targeted areas; and
Whereas, The Good News Mountaineer Garage, notwithstanding its
prior successes, was not awarded the current statewide Donated
Vehicles Program by Department of Health and Human Resources; and
Whereas, The Department of Health and Human Resources instead
awarded the statewide Donated Vehicles Program for the current
period to an organization that is closely involved with the
discredited WHEELS Program, that budgeted minimal marketing moneys
and that has no projected marketing director or budgeted salary for
a marketing director; and
Whereas, both the terminated WHEELS Program and the current
award by the Department of Health and Human Resources of the statewide Donated Vehicles Program are now being investigated by
various authorities; and
Whereas, The Department of Health and Human Resources has taken
the position that the Department will not publically bid the
upcoming statewide Donated Vehicles Program commencing July 1,
2004; and
Whereas, the Legislature finds that the Donated Vehicles
Program contract awarded by the Department of Health and Human
Resources should, like all state contracts, be based upon prudence,
sound business principles and accountability, and should not result
in a monetary loss to the state or detrimental harm to those
persons whom contract was meant to benefit; and
Whereas, the Legislature desires the Secretary of the
Department of Health and Human Resources to reconsider the existing
contract for the Donated Vehicles Program, to publicly bid any new
contract for such services, and to recoup moneys lost through the
now defunct WHEELS Program; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Legislature hereby requests the Secretary to
reconsider the flawed award of the current Donated Vehicles Program
that expires on June 30, 2004 and determine whether it should be
voided, rebid or re-awarded to another party; and, be it
Further resolved, That the Legislature hereby requests the
Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Resources to publically bid the statewide Donated Vehicles Program as of July 1,
2004; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Legislature hereby requests the
Secretary to initiate proceedings to recoup appropriate moneys out
of the twenty four million dollars expended by the Department over
a three year period for the discredited and now terminated WHEELS
Program; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Secretary of the Department of
Health and Human Resources shall report back to the Legislative
Oversight Commission on Health and Human Resources Accountability
on or before the first day of May, 2004, and thereafter as may be
required, as to the decision of the Department on these issues and
the success of the Department in recovering moneys expended on the
WHEELS Program.
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