09 LC 94
1195
Senate
Resolution 635
By:
Senators Henson of the 41st and Tate of the 38th
ADOPTED
SENATE
A
RESOLUTION
Creating
the Senate Study Committee on Georgia Health Disparities for Asian and Pacific
Islander Americans; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS,
health disparity for African Americans in Georgia has been well documented, but
studies related to the health disparity among other minority groups in Georgia
are lacking; and
WHEREAS,
the Asian American and Pacific Islander American populations are among the
fastest growing ethnic backgrounds in Georgia with a growth rate of 33 percent
for Asian Americans and 44 percent for Pacific Islanders from 2000 to 2004;
and
WHEREAS,
Asian and Pacific Islander Americans are collectively the minority groups with
the second highest decline in health conditions next to the Native American
population; and
WHEREAS,
significant scientific studies show that the clinical cut off markers for
chronic diseases could be remarkably lower for Asian and Pacific Islander
Americans in comparison to the general population; and
WHEREAS,
peer-reviewed scientific literature also indicates that the incidence of type 2
diabetes is high for nonobese Asian and Pacific Islander Americans;
and
WHEREAS,
research on the total prevalence of diabetes and other chronic diseases is
currently unavailable for the Asian and Pacific Islander population of the
United States; and
WHEREAS,
although studies comparing the occurrence of diabetes in the Caucasian
population with that of the Asian and Pacific Islander populations have been
performed in California and Hawaii, no such research exists on Georgia's
population; and
WHEREAS,
comprehensive study is needed in the area of the health issues in the Asian and
Pacific Islander populations of Georgia in order to estimate health risks,
ensure the proper provision of educational information to at risk communities,
update the Georgia Health Disparity Report, and modify the standard of care
provided to these Americans.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that there is created the Senate Study
Committee on Georgia Racial Health Disparities for Asian and Pacific Islander
Americans to be composed of five members to be appointed by the President of the
Senate who shall designate one member as chairperson. The chairperson shall call
all meetings of the committee.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee shall undertake a study of the health
risks, language barrier issues, and health funding disparities present in Asian
and Pacific Islander American communities. Furthermore, the committee shall
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 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 31, 2009. The committee shall stand abolished on December 31,
2009.