HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 76
(By Delegate Given)
Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to
conduct a study on the creation of a statutory entity to
review internal investigations of complaints lodged against
state, county and local judicial or political officials.
Whereas, Functions of the State Ethics Commission provide a
mechanism for investigation of complaints of acts of criminal
activity or the use of an abuse of power by members of the
judicial or political powers, but provide no opportunity for
participation in the review process by citizens; and
Whereas, Review of complaints against members of state and
county judicial or political powers presents troubling questions
about the extent to which the public interest requires
confidentiality, and the extent to which the public interest
requires disclosure of certain findings; and
Whereas, Review of complaints against members of state and
county judicial and political powers presents troubling questions
about appropriate mechanisms which balance the constitutional,
statutory or common law rights of judicial and political powers
against whom a complaint is filed with the rights of the
complainants bringing charges of misconduct; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby requested to conduct a study on the creation of a statutory
entity to review internal investigations of complaints lodged
against state, county and local judicial andor political officials.
and make recommendations on the composition and functions of any
board to be created to the Legislature in the regular session,
1999; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and
Finance 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 expenses necessary to conduct this
study and to prepare and report necessary legislation be paid
from legislative appropriations to the Joint Committee on
Government and Finance.