SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 74
(By
Senators Kessler, Browning, Chafin, Foster, Jenkins, Laird,
Minard, Palumbo, Snyder, Stollings, Williams, Yost, Barnes, Deem
and Hall
)
[Originating in the Committee on the Judiciary]
Requesting the Joint Committee on Education to study the need to
provide funding to the athletic departments of West Virginia
high schools and middle schools for the specific purposes of
alleviating the financial burden with respect to
transportation, officials fees, facility upgrades and durable
equipment items.
Whereas, high school and middle school athletics is an
important part of many young West Virginians physical fitness and
the experience of competing in athletics plays an integral role in
many young West Virginians growth as individuals and as a part of
a team; and
Whereas, the athletic departments of West Virginia's middle
schools and high schools are under financial stress; and
Whereas, the State Excess Lottery Revenue Fund has available
funds; and
Whereas, many schools do not have sufficient funds to provide
team transportation to athletic events, thereby creating the safety risk of increased vehicles traveling to the events; and
Whereas, many middle schools and high schools face annual
officials costs of $35,000 or more in order to complete the
schools' athletic events; and
Whereas, many middle schools and high schools need to make
costly facility upgrades, including but not limited to the addition
of lights on outdoor fields and the repair of fields; and
Whereas, many durable equipment items are often more costly
than middle schools and high schools are able to afford; and
Whereas, providing funding for transportation, officials fees,
facility upgrades and certain durable equipment purchase will
create additional jobs in many local communities throughout the
state; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Joint Committee on Education is hereby requested to
study the need for providing funding from the State Excess Lottery
Revenue Fund to the athletic departments of the state's middle
schools and high schools for the specific focus of transportation,
officials fees, facility upgrades and durable equipment items; and,
be it
Further Resolved, That the study need not address any funds
for salaries, hotels, meals, nondurable equipment or other athletic
department expenses that are not mentioned in the previous
paragraph; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Education 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
Education.