SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 8
(By Senators Wiedebusch, Chernenko and Macnaughtan)

Directing the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to make a study of the feasibility of consolidation, under the department of corrections, the regulation of the regional jail system and abolishing the regional jail authority upon completion of the facilities currently under construction and prior to the hiring of the staff at those facilities.

Whereas, The housing of pretrial detainees and those convicted of crimes in correctional facilities has become a significant economic burden on the taxpayers of West Virginia; and
Whereas, It is imperative to the rehabilitation of persons convicted of crimes and to society as a whole that the corrections system function as efficiently and economically as possible; and
Whereas, The actions of the federal government have placed a burden on states in the area of corrections; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby directed to review, examine and study the viability of consolidation under the department of corrections of all correctional and penal responsibilities, the need forrestructuring the current corrections system and abolishing the regional jail authority; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance report to the regular session of the Legislature, 1994, 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 this study, to prepare a report and to draft necessary legislation be paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance.