By Jean Braithwaite
tribune correspondent
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The Silver-Haired Legislators recently ended a three-day session in Charleston by meeting in the House Chamber and voting on eight position papers to prepare the way for the presentation of approved papers to the West Virginia Legislature in the January 2010 session.
A delegation of 91 senior citizens, selected by their peers in four regions across the state, gathered at the Ramada Inn in South Charleston for the opening meetings of the 28th Silver-Haired Legislature convention and to view a video message from Gov. Joe Manchin.
Manchin, who at that time was out of the country on an economic development conference, sent greetings to those present and thanked the seniors for “complete dedication to your community and your state.”
He added, “Your voices are important to our state as you contribute and work on behalf of older Americans.”
House Speaker Richard Thompson was a guest speaker and stated he was “in tune with the issues of older Americans,” by telling the audience that, due to the untimely death of
his father in a coal mining accident, he had been raised by his grandparents.
“We take your recommendations seriously,” he said as he mentioned that two years ago a standing committee for senior concerns was formed by the House of Delegates.
“Your input is what makes West Virginia a better place to live, work, and raise a family,” he said.
All eight of the position papers were accepted and the one receiving the highest approval vote dealt with funding for public libraries.
Loretta Jones, of Greenbrier County, was chairman of the standing committee on education, which sponsored the paper calling for a change in the legislative rule for a stable source of revenue for libraries.
Jones pushed for passage of the position paper, anticipating “closure of small town libraries” if a steady stream of funding from either the state or local government does not happen.
Garry Lynne Shearer, of Weston, leading the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, and part of Region III that includes Mineral, Grant, and Hampshire counties garnered interest in the paper that would make handicapped accessibility improvements in state parks.
Shearer stated that the younger and older populations who are physically handicapped are now joined by injured veterans, all needing to be able to access every recreational facility in the state.
She pointed out aggressive plans have been addressed since the 1991 mandate, but, “there is still a lot to be done to bring state parks into complete Americans with Disabilities Act compliance.”
Each region is allowed two position papers, and the second one for Region III promoted a safe environment for nursing homes and long-term care patients.
Preston County resident Phil Turner spoke concerning the need to address the situation of those in nursing homes that suffer from traumatic brain injuries and those who are sexual predators.
“Nursing homes are not prepared with programs in these two areas,” Turner said.
To assist with these concerns, the Health and Human Resources Committee suggested the possibility of creating a Medicaid waiver, patterned after a program already in place in Kentucky, where brain injured individuals could be residents in community-based group homes.
In addition, and as part of the same position paper, long-term care facilities would have access to a listing of sexual predators - not to deny admission but to be alerted to the circumstances.
Region I had papers involving incentives for small businesses to improve and encourage their success among this group that covers nearly 70 percent of the state’s economic growth, in addition to advocating the Drunk Driver Victim Program, where funding from an increase in taxes on beer and wine would assist victims with costs associated with injuries, death, and property losses as a result of accidents caused by drunk drivers.
Having two controversial subjects, the Silver-Haired Legislators from Region II presented a paper dealing with the educational qualifications of magistrate judges, wanting a change in state code that would offer an upgrade to a minimum requirement of an associate degree in criminal justice, a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college, or four or more years of experience as a magistrate.
The second paper from Region II and from the Committee on Veteran’s Affairs and Homeland Security proposed using volunteer senior citizens to be part of a program to anonymously report illegal drug trafficking to a neighborhood designee who in turn would notify law enforcement officials.
Passing with a 51 to 38 vote, Bob Barlow of Preston County spoke about safety concerns and said, “Sooner or later, the senior who is doing the reporting will be identified.”
The remaining position paper on the method of driver’s license renewal in the counties where there are no regional offices was approved last year, but received no acknowledgement from the state’s legislators.
With a few basic changes in the position paper from 2008, those on the Roads and Transportation Committee asked for trained employees from existing regional offices be made available throughout the counties without regional offices on a once-a-month basis for the purpose of license renewal for nearby residents.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. —
