HOUSE RESOLUTION 10

(By  Delegates Caputo,  Anderson,  Barrett,  Bates,  Boggs,  Brewer,  Byrd,  Campbell,  Canestraro, Diserio,  Dean,  Eldridge, E. Evans,  Ferro,  Fleischauer,  Fluharty,  Hanshaw,  Hartman, Hicks,  Hill,  Hornbuckle,  Iaquinta,  Isner,  Kessinger,  Longstreth,  Love,  Lovejoy,  Lynch, Marcum,  Miley,  Miller, R.,  Moye,  Pack,  Paynter,  Pethtel,  Pushkin,  Pyles,  Queen, Robinson,  Rodighiero,  Rowe,  Sponaugle,  Statler,  Storch,  Thompson,  Wagner,  Ward, Westfall and Williams)

[Introduced February 27, 2018; Referred to the Committee on Rules]

Requesting the Governor to increase public access to the State Capitol.

Whereas, On Friday, February 16th, hundreds of West Virginia teachers waited outside in the rain for three hours to get into the Capitol building to peacefully protest; and

Whereas, According to the West Virginia State Constitution, it is the sacred right of the people to assemble in a peaceful manner, to consult for the common good, to instruct their representatives, and to apply for redress of grievances; and

Whereas, According to the West Virginia State Constitution, the power of our government resides in all the citizens of the state and can only be exercised in accordance with their will and appointment; and

Whereas, These rights can be impeded by small incremental measures, and even when not intended, to limit the access of our citizens to instruct their representatives and apply for redress of grievances can be inhibited by burdensome acts, and although only intended to protect state employees, visitors and legislators, unduly restrictive access to the State Capitol can impede this inherent right; and

Whereas, Currently only two entrances to the Capitol are open to allow members of the public pass through security, one on the west and one on the east wing; and

Whereas, It is a common occurrence that when the Legislature is in session or when a significant public event occurs, long delays result. Thus the citizens of our great state may be discouraged to participate at the Capitol; and

Whereas, These limited locations work well on days when the Legislature is not in session and other days when there are no events and activities of broad interest to bring out a large number of state citizens to the State Capitol, but during sessions and public events, especially during winter months, long delays not only creates a burden for our citizens, but also is a barrier for our citizens who wish to visit the Capitol; therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Delegates:

That the Governor undertake the necessary steps, during the times when the Legislature is in session and when scheduled events or activities result in large numbers of citizens of the state coming to the Capitol, to provide additional measures to improve access to the Capitol by implementing more efficient screening methods and additional access points to the Capitol to allow more expediated access preventing long lines and significant delays to persons who come to visit their Capitol; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the West Virginia House of Delegates forward a copy of this resolution to the Governor.