SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 24
(By Senators Wagner, Bowman, Buckalew, Miller and Plymale)
Requesting the joint committee on government and finance to create
a study on the continual misuse of handicapped parking spaces
in the state of West Virginia.
Whereas, It is in the interest of the state of West Virginia
to ensure to all disabled persons an equal right to full use of and
accommodation in all public facilities, public buildings and
various other public places; and,
Whereas, It is the responsibility of the state to provide and
maintain all disabled persons with free parking spaces within a
close proximity to all state, county and municipal buildings and
other public facilities, which are to be reserved solely for the
use of disabled persons; and,
Whereas, It has been determined that there is a widespread
absence of respect by the general public who persist in
disregarding and misusing handicapped parking spaces with little or
no penalty; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the joint committee on government and finance is hereby requested to create a study commission to be known as the "Study
Commission on the Misuse of Handicapped Parking" and, be it
Further Resolved, That such commission shall consist of eleven
members; three members to be appointed by the president of the
Senate, one to be designated by the president as cochairman; three
members to be appointed by the speaker of the House of Delegates,
one to be designated as cochairman; five members to be appointed by
the governor, two to be individuals who utilize handicapped parking
spaces, two to be members of the law-enforcement community, and one
to be an attorney of whom is experienced in disability law; and, be
it
Further Resolved, That the commission is hereby requested to
review, examine and study the perceived abuse inflicted on
handicapped parking spaces and evaluate these effects on the safety
and welfare of the disabled citizens of the state of West Virginia;
and, be it
Further Resolved, That the commission shall meet in Charleston
or elsewhere as it may deem necessary or appropriate, and shall
convene at least quarterly and at such other times as its duties
may require. The first meeting shall be called jointly by the
president of the Senate and the speaker of the House of Delegate,
one of whom shall preside temporarily until a chairman is elected;
and, be it
Further Resolved, That the interim findings of the
intergovernmental study commission shall be reported to the
Legislature at the interim sessions of the Legislature, one
thousand nine hundred ninety-six, with respect to the progress of
activities, programs and plans of the commission toward the
development of recommendations; and a final report of the
commission shall be submitted to the regular session of the
Legislature, 1997, unless the existence of the intergovernmental
study commission is continued by resolution or other action of the
joint committee on government and finance; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct the
commission's study and to prepare appropriate reports,
recommendations and proposed legislation be paid from the
legislative appropriations to the joint committee on government and
finance.