HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 37
(By Delegates Fleischauer, Et.Al.)
Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to make
a study of nursing homes in the State of West Virginia.
Whereas, An increasing number of West Virginia residents are
seeking care from nursing homes; and
Whereas, The health, safety, comfort and well-being of the
residents of such homes are of the utmost concern to the
Legislature of West Virginia; and
Whereas, The health, safety, comfort and well-being of the
residents of such homes are dependent upon the quality of the
staff employed at such homes; and
Whereas, The quality of the staff employed in nursing homes
is, in turn, dependent upon adequate wages, staffing patterns and
other employment practices which attract, train and maintain
dedicated employees to care for the residents of such nursing
homes; and
Whereas, The Legislature encourages the development of
staffing patterns and practices in nursing homes which promote
employee quality and effectiveness through appropriate
compensation, safety standards, professional and nonprofessional
ratios, working conditions and other such factors; and
Whereas, The Legislature further encourages the developmentof staffing patterns and practices in nursing homes which take
into consideration patient acuity levels, the layout of the
facility, the geographic location of the nursing home, and the
availability of employees; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby
requested to review, examine and study the status of nursing
homes in this State; to determine the need for development of
employee standards regarding compensation, working conditions,
professional and nonprofessional staff ratios and general working
conditions; to determine methods for the development of standards
which take into consideration patient acuity levels, facility
layout, geographic location and employee availability; to
determine which standards are feasible and advisable; and to make
recommendations to the Legislature regarding the same; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and
Finance report to the regular session of the Legislature, 1997,
on its findings, conclusions and recommendations, together with
drafts of any legislation necessary to effectuate its
recommendation; 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.