09 LC
33 2788
Senate
Resolution 56
By:
Senator Ramsey, Sr. of the 43rd
A
RESOLUTION
Creating
the Joint Vulnerable Adult Study Committee; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS,
the General Assembly has recognized that many citizens of this state, because of
their age or because of a serious and persistent mental illness, degenerative
brain disorder, developmental or physical disabilities, or other like
incapacities, are in need of emergency protective placement should they become
the victim of abuse, neglect, or exploitation; and
WHEREAS,
the lack of emergency protective placement for victims of abuse who are elders
or adults with disabilities is a nationwide issue and was identified as a
problem in Georgia as early as 1993 by the Senate Elder Abuse Task Force, which
discovered that "there is an intense need in Georgia to establish a
comprehensive emergency alternative placement network for abused elderly
citizens"; and
WHEREAS,
the task force found that in Georgia there are no specialized shelters that
provide services for victims of elder or disabled adult abuse who need safe
shelter and recommended that the General Assembly urge private organizations,
such as civic clubs, to provide funding for emergency intervention and placement
of the elderly; and
WHEREAS,
because of the growth of the population of disabled adults and those over the
age of 65 in the past several decades, the increased need for emergency
placement is reaching epic proportions; and
WHEREAS,
the absence of emergency placement for victims of disabled adult or elder abuse
subjects victims to the ongoing risks associated with abuse, neglect, and
exploitation; and
WHEREAS,
emergency protective placement should allow the individual the same rights as
other citizens and protect the individual from financial exploitation, abuse,
neglect, and self-neglect; and
WHEREAS,
it is in the best interests of the state to continue the work of the Senate
Elder Abuse Task Force to recommend solutions for the creation and development
of a plan for emergency placement of disabled adults and elder victims of abuse;
and
WHEREAS,
statistical data and information regarding the extent of the problem should be
collected and the establishment of arrangements with the Division of Aging of
the Department of Human Resources to have designated emergency beds in certain
nursing facilities and to provided medicaid funding and a streamlined admission
procedure for temporary emergency placement of disabled adults and elder victims
of abuse in long-term care facilities with available beds should be
considered.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA that there is
created the Joint Vulnerable Adult Study Committee. The committee shall consist
of six members. Three members of the House of Representatives shall be appointed
by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, who shall designate one of such
members as a co-chairperson of the committee. Three members of the Senate shall
be appointed by the President of the Senate, who shall designate one of such
members as a co-chairperson of the committee. The co-chairpersons 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 action 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 provided for in Code Section 28-1-8 of the Official Code of Georgia
Annotated. The allowances authorized by this resolution shall not be received
by any member of the committee for more than five 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 and the Senate. 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 1, 2009. The committee
shall stand abolished on December 1, 2009.