Bill Text: WV HCR143 | 2012 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance conduct a study of the residential placement of children
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-03-10 - To House Rules [HCR143 Detail]
Download: West_Virginia-2012-HCR143-Introduced.html
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 143
(By Delegates Storch and Mahan)
Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance conduct a study of the residential placement of children.
Whereas, The Legislature passed Senate Bill 636 in 2010 that created within the Department of Health and Human Resources the Commission to study the Residential Placement of Children and directed the Commission to report its conclusions and recommendations to the Legislature by December 1, 2010; and
Whereas, Although the Commission continues in existence, it is under no directive by law to provide any further recommendations to the Legislature to address the issues still remaining with regard to the residential placement of children in this state; and
Whereas, The state’s current system of serving children and families in need of or at risk of needing social, emotional and behavioral health services continues to be fragmented; and
Whereas, The existing categorical structure of government programs and their funding streams discourages collaboration, resulting in duplication of efforts and a waste of limited resources; and
Whereas, Further efforts are needed to achieve systemic reform whereby all of the state’s child-serving agencies involved in the residential placement of at-risk youth are coordinated to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of this system; and
Whereas, This state should have an integrated system of care for at-risk youth and families that makes prudent and cost-effective use of limited state resources by drawing upon the experience of successful models and best practices in this and other jurisdictions, focusing on delivering services in the least restrictive setting appropriate to the needs of the child, and which produces better outcomes for children, families and the state; and
Whereas, A further study of the issues related to the residential placement of children by the Joint Committee on Government and Finance, which could supplement, monitor and oversee the efforts of the Commission and make further follow-up recommendations to the Legislature, would provide an additional resource to address these issues; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance conduct a study of the residential placement of children; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance report to the regular session of the Legislature, 2013, 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.
