HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 102

(By Delegates Rowan, Boggs, Rohrbach, Graves, Longstreth, Lovejoy, Malcolm, C. Martin, P. Martin, Pyles, and Sypolt)

[Introduced March 9, 2019]

Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to study the feasibility of including victims of financial exploitation as persons who are eligible for an award from the West Virginia Crime Victims Compensation Fund, especially persons who are elderly, incapacitated or who have been deemed protected persons, and the possibility of coordinating with the federal Victims of Crime Act program to obtain funds for such awards.

Whereas, Many persons in West Virginia are victims of financial exploitation, the fastest growing silent crime of the 21st century; and

Whereas, In many cases the perpetrator of the financial exploitation drains the victim of his or her life savings, income and real and personal property, leaving that victim subject to evictions, homelessness, hunger and destitution; and

Whereas, West Virginia has a Crime Victims Compensation Fund that grants awards to victims of crimes that result in physical harm; and

Whereas, The federal Victims of Crimes Act and other states have extended crime victims compensation awards to victims of financial exploitation; and

Whereas, Even the smallest award from the Crime Victims Compensation Fund would assist vulnerable victims of financial exploitation in keeping their housing, property and dignity without resorting to assistance from public programs; 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 including victims of financial exploitation as persons who are eligible for an award from the West Virginia Crime Victims Compensation Fund, especially persons who are elderly, incapacitated or who have been deemed protected persons, and the possibility of coordinating with the federal Victims of Crime Act program to obtain funds for such awards; and, be it.

Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance report to the regular session of the Legislature, 2020, 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 a study, prepare reports, and draft necessary legislation be paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance.