HOUSE RESOLUTION 3

(By Delegate Hanshaw (Mr. Speaker))

[Introduced January 12, 2022]

H. R. 3    – “Creating a Select Committee on Jails and Prisons.”

Whereas, The task of safely incarcerating the State’s over 10,000 inmates and providing a safe working environment for the men and women employed in the State’s correctional facilities is a matter of utmost importance to the public safety and often requires legislative action; and

Whereas, The costs involved in properly securing the increasing population of the State’s jails and prisons, including maintenance of facilities, medical care for inmates, and per diem charges to the various counties, are matters which may be resolved, balancing the best interest of public safety and increased efficiencies, through oversight of the Legislature and a Select Committee; and

Whereas, The public safety and interest is enhanced through appropriate legislative action considering the issue of programming in the State’s correctional facilities which would examine reasonable methods to ensure the successful transition and reentry of incarcerated persons from confinement into a post-carceral setting such that those persons may become productive members of society; and

Whereas, The State continues to seek methods which would address issues of filling critical vacancies in the State’s correctional facilities, which would ensure uninterrupted service to law enforcement and the Courts of this State, and this issue can, and has, been addressed through appropriate legislative action; therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Delegates:

That for the remainder of the 85^th Legislature, there is hereby created a Select Committee on Jails and Prisons, consisting of not more than eleven members of the House of Delegates, to be appointed by the Speaker.  Notwithstanding the provisions of any House rule to the contrary, the Select Committee hereby created shall receive testimony, consider legislation, and recommend action to the Speaker of the House regarding all issues relating to corrections in the State of West Virginia; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the rules of the House governing Standing Committees shall govern the actions and proceedings of this Select Committee insofar as applicable.