H. C. R. 6--"Applying to the Congress of the United States
to call a convention for the purpose of proposing an amendment to
the Constitution of the United States to allow county jail
standards to be set by the counties."
Whereas, The cost of staying within federal jail standards
is an exorbitant economic burden for counties which is
restricting funding to other important governmental programs such
as law enforcement and education; and
Whereas, The demands of convicted criminals should not
dictate how a jail should be run or how the taxpayers' money
should be spent; and
Whereas, Under Article V of the Constitution of the United
States, amendments to the federal Constitution may be proposed by
the Congress whenever two thirds of both houses deem it necessary
or on the application of the legislatures of two thirds of the
several states that the Congress shall call a constitutional
convention for the purpose of proposing amendments which shall be
valid to all intents and purposes when ratified by the
legislatures of three fourths of the several states; therefore,
be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Congress of the United States is hereby requested
to propose and submit to the states an amendment to the
Constitution of the United States which would require that county
jail standards be set by the counties after the amendment is
ratified by the various states; and, be it
Further Resolved, That alternatively, this body respectfully
petitions the Congress of the United States to call a convention
for the specific and exclusive purpose of proposing an amendmentto the Constitution of the United States to allow county jail
standards to be set by the counties; and, be it
Further Resolved, That this application by this body
constitutes a continuing application in accordance with Article
V of the Constitution of the United States until at least two
thirds of the legislatures of the several states have made
similar applications pursuant to Article V; and, be it
Further Resolved, That this application and request be
deemed null and void, rescinded, and of no effect in the event
that such convention not be limited to such specific and
exclusive purpose; and, be it
Further Resolved, That as this application under Article V
of the Constitution of the United States is the exercise of a
fundamental power of the sovereign states under the Constitution
of the United States, it is requested that receipt of this
application by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the
Congress of the United States be officially noted and duly
entered upon their respective records, and that the full context
of this resolution be published in the official publication of
both the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Congress;
and, be it
Further Resolved, That copies of this resolution be sent to
the Clerk of the United States House of Representatives, the
Secretary of the United States Senate, and to each member of the
West Virginia Congressional delegation.