HR139EX2.html

Creating the House Study Committee on Services and Support for Children in the Care and Custody of Grandparents and Other Family Members; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, as the result of the inability of parents to provide care for their children, grandparents and other family members are assuming the responsibility of raising such children; and

WHEREAS, in many instances, grandparents and other family members who are caring for children are unable to obtain services and support for these children because they are not the child's legal guardian; and

WHEREAS, without such services and support these children will experience enormous negative effects; and

WHEREAS, there is a need to review the current programs that provide services and support to children to determine whether any revision in the laws that govern such programs is necessary and appropriate to address the needs of children being cared for by grandparents and other family members.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that there is created the House Study Committee on Services and Support for Children in the Care and Custody of Grandparents and Other Family Members to be composed of six members of the House of Representatives to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of which two shall be members of the Appropriations Committee, two shall be members of the Judiciary Committee, and two shall be members of the Children and Youth Committee. The Speaker of the House shall designate a member of the committee as chairperson of the committee. The chairperson shall call all meetings of the committee.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee shall undertake a study of the conditions, needs, issues, and problems mentioned above or related thereto and recommend any actions or legislation which the committee deems necessary or appropriate. The committee may conduct such meetings at such places and at such times as it may deem necessary or convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform its duties, and accomplish the objectives and purposes of this resolution. The members of the committee shall receive the allowances authorized for legislative members of interim legislative committees but shall receive the same for not more than three days unless additional days are authorized. The funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution shall come from the funds appropriated to the House of Representatives. In the event the committee makes a report of its findings and recommendations, with suggestions for proposed legislation, if any, such report shall be made on or before December 31, 2001. The committee shall stand abolished on December 31, 2001.