HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 145

(By Delegates Manypenny, Ambler, Anderson, Andes, Arvon, Ashley, Azinger, Barill, Border, Campbell, Caputo, Cooper, Craig, Diserio, Eldridge, Ellington, Evans, A., Faircloth, Ferns, Fleischauer, Folk, Gearheart, Guthrie, Hamilton, Hamrick, Hartman, Iaquinta, Jones, Lawrence, Lynch, Marshall, Miller, Moye, Pasdon, Paxton, Perdue, Perry, Phillips, L., Poling, D., Poore, Raines, Reynolds, Romine, Rowan, Skaff, Smith, R., Sobonya, Sponaugle, Staggers, Storch, Stowers, Sumner, Swartzmiller, Walker, Westfall, Williams and Young)

Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to study how West Virginia can fully fund the West Virginia Veterinarian's Tuition Contract Program.

    Whereas, With rising tuition and financial cuts to the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission budget on the horizon, a wider gap is being created between funding for this program and the necessary funds to send West Virginia students out of state to study veterinary medicine since West Virginia lacks a veterinary school; and

    Whereas, While Kentucky is similar to West Virginia in many different aspects, Kentucky has almost twice as many student candidates that are funded as West Virginia; and

    Whereas, Currently, there are thirteen designated slots each year for West Virginia students wishing to pursue an education in veterinarian medicine at the following partner institutions; Auburn University (2 students), Mississippi State University (5 students), and Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine (6 students); and

    Whereas, The program promises the guaranteed seats to West Virginia students while also lowering their tuition rates at the partnering schools to instate values; and

     Whereas, The support per student for the 2013-2014 year is $26,600; and

    Whereas, According to the Governor's anticipated seven and one-half percent decrease from the current budget, this would leave a $263,000 deficit for the program for the 2013-2014 school year, $158,000 from the seven and one-half percent decrease in the current budget and $108,000 increase in Southern Regional Education Board fees; and

    Whereas, This study should consider increasing the number of students funded while also meeting the ongoing increases in tuition; therefore, be it

    Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

    That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby requested to study how West Virginia can fully fund the West Virginia Veterinarian's Tuition Contract Program; and, be it

    Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance report to the Legislature, no later than the first day of the regular session, 2014, on its findings, conclusions, and recommendations, if any, 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.