Bill Text: WV HCR100 | 2019 | Regular Session | Introduced

West Virginia House Concurrent Resolution 100 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Study of the adoption process in West Virginia

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-03-09 - To House Rules [HCR100 Detail]

Download: West_Virginia-2019-HCR100-Introduced.html

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 100

(By Delegates Sypolt, Rowan, Boggs, Linville, Longstreth, Lovejoy, C. Martin, P. Martin, and Pyles)

[Introduced March 9, 2019]

Requesting a study of the adoption process in West Virginia.

Whereas, West Virginia currently is suffering a child welfare crisis that is leaving over seven thousand children in the foster care system.

Whereas, West Virginia is suffering from a drug epidemic that is exacerbating the child welfare crisis.

Whereas, The overall goal is for children in the foster care system to be reunified with their birth parents; however there remains a large portion whose parental rights have been terminated thus leaving the children eligible for adoption.

Whereas, Only 27% of those discharged from foster care in 2017 were adopted.

Whereas, Increased adoption from foster care is an opportunity to decrease the number of young people left to spend much of their youth in unstable and less than ideal living arrangements.

Whereas, West Virginia should review national best practices to ensure its policy create an environment which leads to successful permanent placements.

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the West Virginia House of Delegates conduct a study to better understand the potential that adoption could have in addressing the critical need for improving child welfare in West Virginia.

Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance report to the regular session of the Legislature, 2020, 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 a study, prepare reports, and draft necessary legislation be paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance.

When children being discharged from the foster care system cannot be reunified with their birth parent it is important to ensure that the adoptive system can adequately provide permanent family placement.