HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 95
(By Delegates Morgan, Caputo, DeLong, Staggers,
Manchin, Longstreth and Palumbo)
Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance study the
implementation of the Uniform Emergency Volunteer Healthcare
Practitioners Act.
Whereas, The Uniform Emergency Volunteer Health Practitioners
Act responds to a serious problem caused by a lack of uniformity in
state laws that was revealed during the horrific hurricane season
of 2005; and
Whereas, Doctors, nurses, EMT's, mental health professionals,
veterinarians, coroners, and other health professionals providing
needed individual and public health services from outside the
affected Gulf Coast states who volunteered to provide desperately
needed assistance to disaster victims were seriously delayed, and
in some cases prevented, from providing services because they were
unable to quickly and clearly obtain authorization to practice
within the affected states; and
Whereas, Although all fifty states have adopted the Emergency
Management Assistance Compact that provides for the interstate
recognition of licenses held by professionals responding to
disasters and emergencies, the Compact cannot be efficiently used
to supply the surge capacity required to deliver health services during emergencies; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby
requested to study the implementation of the Uniform Emergency
Volunteer Healthcare Practitioners Act; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and
Finance review, examine, and study all aspects of extending
protection from liability to volunteers who render emergency aid to
another person who is injured; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and
Finance report to the regular session of the Legislature, 2008, 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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