SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 51
(By Senators Kessler, Browning, Foster, Jenkins, Laird, Minard,
Palumbo, Snyder, Stollings, Williams, Yost, Barnes and Deem)
[Originating in the Committee on the Judiciary]
Requesting the
Joint Committee on Government and Finance
to study
the 1987 law establishing the West Virginia Occupational,
Safety and Health Act for public employees and to specify
recommendations necessary to properly implement the law in
accordance with federal guidelines in order to receive federal
matching funds.
Whereas, the Legislature created Article Three-A of Chapter
Twenty-one of the West Virginia Code in an attempt to create the
West Virginia Occupational Safety and Health Act in compliance with
federal guidelines; and
Whereas, according to a 2002 Legislative Audit, this the West
Virginia Occupational Safety and Health Act has never been properly
implemented or enforced; and
Whereas, proper implementation and enforcement of the West
Virginia Occupational Safety and Health Act would provide federal
matching funds for state implementation and enforcement of
Occupational Safety and Health Act standards for public employees;
and
Whereas, it is a priority of the Legislature to ensure that
all employees of the state have a safe workplace to carry out their
daily duties and implementation and enforcement of the West
Virginia Occupational Safety and Health Act would further that
priority; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the
Joint Committee on Government and Finance
is hereby
requested to study the current implementation of the West Virginia
Occupational Safety and Health Act for the purpose of determining
what changes to the law must be made in order to make state law
eligible for federal matching funds from the proper implementation
and enforcement of the West Virginia Occupational Safety and Health
Act standards for public employees; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the
Joint Committee on Government and
Finance
report to the regular session of the Legislature in 2011 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, to prepare a report and to draft necessary legislation be
paid from legislative appropriations to the
Joint Committee on
Government and Finance
.