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Further Resolved, That this application and request be deemed null and void, rescinded, and of no effect in the event that such convention not be limited to such specific and exclusive purpose; and, be it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.