SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 90
(By Senators Tomblin, Mr. President, Kessler,
Minard, Bailey, Prezioso, Jenkins, Hunter, Chafin,
Sharpe, Snyder, Unger, Ross, Oliverio, Helmick, McCabe,
Bowman, Plymale, Fanning, Caldwell, Rowe and McKenzie)
Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance study the
solvency of the West Virginia unemployment compensation fund.
Whereas, The West Virginia Bureau of Employment Programs was
created to promote the social and economic security of unemployed
West Virginians so as to guard against the menace to health, morals
and welfare arising from unemployment; and
Whereas, The Commissioner of the West Virginia Bureau of
Employment Programs is charged with overseeing the fiscal affairs
of the Bureau; and
Whereas, The Commissioner has ascertained that it is necessary
to adjust the current manner of operation within the Bureau of
Employment Programs to meet the expected demand on benefits and to
retain the current solvency of the unemployment trust fund account;
and
Whereas, If the current trend continues as projected, the
benefits paid will continue to increase and the funds available
through contributions to the fund will not be sufficient to address
the demands for benefits upon them and the unemployment trust fund account will become insolvent; and
Whereas, The West Virginia Bureau of Employment Programs is in
dire need of review of the wage base and the maximum weekly wage in
West Virginia to correlate to continued solvency of the
unemployment trust fund account; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby
requested to study the solvency of the West Virginia unemployment
compensation fund; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and
Finance report to the regular session of the Legislature, 2005, 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.