HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 64

(By Delegates Beane, Kuhn, Butcher, Ennis, Hatfield, Iaquinta, Manchin, Manuel, Martin, Perdue, Spencer, Talbott, Wright, Yeager, Yost, Azinger, Blair, Caruth, Frich and Walters )


(Originating in the Committee on Government Organization)

[February 27, 2003]


Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to study the feasibility of developing and maintaining a central abuse registry.

Whereas, The department of health and human resources is entrusted with the care, custody and control of countless numbers of children, adults and the elderly.

And,

Whereas, The children, adults and elderly under the care, custody and control of the department frequently suffer from mental retardation, developmental disabilities, or mental illness and as such are more susceptible to abuse, neglect or misappropriation of property than the general population.

And,

Whereas, There presently exists no central registry which identifies persons found to have substantiated allegations of abuse, neglect or misappropriation of property, making it possible for a person to change employment within the department or those organizations under the authority of the department, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby requested to study the feasibility of developing and maintaining a registry containing the names of any person employed by the department of health and human resources or any organization under the authority of the department of health and human resources, who has had substantiated allegations of abuse, neglect or misappropriation of property against any person under the care, custody or control of the department; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and finance report to the regular session of the Legislature, 2004, 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 Joint Committee on Government and Finance.