09 LC 94
1250
Senate
Resolution 642
By:
Senator Unterman of the 45th
A
RESOLUTION
Creating
the Senate Study Committee on Consolidation of Services for Crime Victims; and
for other purposes.
WHEREAS,
victims of crime suffer short-term and long-term consequences from their
experience long after the incident has concluded; and
WHEREAS,
crime victims include those exposed to domestic violence, sexually exploited
minors, and those who have previously been exploited and have agreed to testify
against their abuser; and
WHEREAS,
the State of Georgia has an interest in treating crime victims in order to break
the cycle of abuse and minimize the costs of health care and social services for
victims who go untreated; and
WHEREAS,
several state agencies in Georgia provide some type of service to victims of
crime, but no single agency currently exists with the sole mission of assisting
victims of crime; and
WHEREAS,
a single agency focused solely on providing support to victims of criminal acts
would increase the amount of federal funds received by the state to serve
victims of crime; would provide consolidation of services available to victims,
allowing for more convenient and better quality services; and this single agency
would serve as a strong voice in advocating for rights on behalf of crime
victims in Georgia; and
WHEREAS,
research is needed to ascertain what services are currently being provided to
crime victims and how these services can be combined and placed in one authority
in order to provide crime victims with the best assistance possible;
and
WHEREAS,
a comprehensive study of the issues and facts related to the provision of
services by the State of Georgia to crime victims and how such services can be
consolidated is needed to protect the health of Georgia's citizens.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that there is created the Senate Study
Committee on Consolidation of Services for Crime Victims 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 services
currently provided to victims of crime, what agencies are providing said
services, and how these services can be consolidated to better serve the crime
victims of Georgia. 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 January 11, 2010.
The committee shall stand abolished on January 11, 2010.