SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 50

(By Senators Jackson, Craigo, Hunter, Plymale, Rowe, Sharpe, Ross, Mitchell, Oliverio, Helmick, Edgell, Kessler, Minard, Anderson, Unger, McCabe, Prezioso, Wooton, Love, Caldwell, Burnette, Redd, Minear, Sprouse and Tomblin, Mr. President)


Requesting the United States Congress amend the basic support allotment formula for the Department of Education, Rehabilitation Services Administration, to hold harmless West Virginia and other states whose populations are decreasing or remaining static.

Whereas, West Virginia has the largest per capita population of persons with disabilities compared to other states in this nation; and

Whereas, Seventy-five percent of individuals with disabilities in this state and in the nation are unemployed; and

Whereas, The Rehabilitation Services program enables individuals with disabilities to gain skills needed in order to obtain or retain jobs in the competitive job market; and

Whereas, The current Rehabilitation Services basic support allotment formula is based primarily on per capita income and population in the 50 states; and West Virginia is ranked near the bottom in both of these categories; and

Whereas, West Virginia received a cost-of-living adjustment of
only one and six hundredths of one percent for this fiscal year rather than the standard cost-of-living adjustment equaling four percent which represents a $1,110,000 reduction; and
Whereas, If this trend continues, there will be no choice but to reduce services to West Virginia citizens with disabilities; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Legislature hereby requests the United States Congress to amend the basic support allotment formula for the Department of Education, Rehabilitation Services Administration, to hold harmless West Virginia and other states whose populations are decreasing or remaining static; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the Senate is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to West Virginia's congressional delegation.