HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 45
(By Delegates L. Smith and Hall)
Requesting the joint committee on government and finance to
undertake a study of "targeted tax credits" for the purpose
of helping West Virginia's working families afford important
life necessities, such as child day care, health insurance,
college tuition costs and long-term care insurance for
senior citizens.
Whereas, Many West Virginia working families are having a
tough time meeting the challenges of raising their children due
to economic limitations, income levels, health-related hardships,
divorce or abuse settings, rising living costs and other factors;
and
Whereas, Tax credits, specially targeted, can help certain
income groups afford these necessities, thereby, giving their
children an equal opportunity to compete in the 21st Century; and
Whereas, Tax credits, specifically targeted, can assure that
families are using this help from the state to achieve the
objectives prescribed above; and
Whereas, The future of West Virginia will be much better if the children of today were supervised in quality, licensed child
care facilities, received regular access to quality health care
services and had the ability to attend a college or vo-tech
facility in West Virginia if they choose; and
Whereas, Helping encourage more senior citizens obtain long-
term care insurance will more than pay for itself in terms of
significantly less dollars spent on Medicaid and Medicare, and
thereby save the Government many millions of dollars in the
future; and
Whereas, The state has been enjoying steady improvements in
its economy, and hopefully will continue to experience budget
surpluses for many more years into the future; 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 impact of implementing
a system of tax credits to help working families pay for child
day care, health insurance, college tuition and long term care
insurance costs, and that such study fully utilize the resources
of the National Association of State Legislatures and the
National Governor's Association to learn what other states have
done in this area; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the joint committee on government and
finance report to the Regular Session of the Legislature, 2000, 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 the legislative appropriations to the
joint committee on government and finance.