HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 20

(By Mr. Speaker, Mr. Kiss, and Delegates Facemyer,

Michael, L. White, Doyle and Beane)


Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to make a study of the qualifications, educational and training requirements, and administration of state law-enforcement officers and personnel.

Whereas, Since its creation in the year 1919, the mission and jurisdiction of the state police has been the statewide enforcement of the criminal and traffic laws of this state; and
Whereas, Various law-enforcement officers of other state agencies are also concurrently granted limited authority to enforce certain criminal laws within the jurisdiction of their state agency to enforce, including, but not limited to, law-enforcement officers of the division of natural resources, the public service commission, the state fire marshal and the division of highways; and
Whereas, These state agency enforcement officers have most, and in some instances, all of the police powers of officers of the state police to enforce the laws within their jurisdiction, including the power to arrest, to carry and use firearms in enforcement, to search and seize persons and property and to enter private lands; and
Whereas, The jurisdiction and authority of the state police in many instances overlaps the jurisdiction and authority of state agency enforcement officers; and
Whereas, The qualifications, educational and training requirements, and administration of state law-enforcement officers varies from agency to agency and the Legislature finds that the more efficient and uniform training, administration and qualification of such officers may enhance the quality of enforcement of the criminal laws under their jurisdiction for the protection of the citizens of the sState of West Virginia; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the jJoint cCommittee on gGovernment and fFinance is hereby requested to appoint an interim committee consisting of five members of the House of Delegates, to be designated by the Speaker of the House of Delegates, and five members of the Senate, to be designated by the President of the Senate, to study the qualifications, educational and training requirements and administration of state law-enforcement personnel and officers and to determine and make recommendations in regard thereto which would foster the more efficient and uniform qualification, training and education and administration of state law- enforcement officers and personnel; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the jJoint cCommittee on gGovernment and fFinance report to the regular session of the Legislature, 1999, 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 jJoint cCommittee on gGovernment and fFinance.