PRINTER'S NO. 2787
No. 229 Session of 1989
INTRODUCED BY MAINE, HAGARTY, BLAUM, MILLER, JAROLIN, LINTON,
TRICH, RITTER, MORRIS, FREEMAN, McHALE, JADLOWIEC, WASS,
LASHINGER, COLAIZZO, BILLOW, SCRIMENTI, SCHULER, STABACK,
GEIST, McNALLY, MURPHY, ARGALL, ITKIN, GODSHALL, PESCI,
DISTLER, MELIO, VAN HORNE, FOX, BELFANTI, O'BRIEN,
J. L. WRIGHT, BUNT, WOGAN, LEVDANSKY, PRESSMANN, TANGRETTI,
STEIGHNER, KUKOVICH, LAUGHLIN, PISTELLA, HERMAN, SAURMAN,
JOSEPHS, E. Z. TAYLOR, VROON, MICHLOVIC, FAIRCHILD, CARN,
HUGHES, WOZNIAK, McCALL, WILLIAMS, JOHNSON, RUDY AND CAWLEY,
NOVEMBER 15, 1989
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON RULES, NOVEMBER 15, 1989
A RESOLUTION
1 Providing for the appointment of a select committee to study the
2 need and availability of funding for domestic violence and
3 rape crisis services in this Commonwealth.
4 WHEREAS, Incidents of domestic violence and sexual violence
5 are not confined to any group or groups of people, but cross all
6 age, racial, economical, geographical, family structural, gender
7 and social barriers; and
8 WHEREAS, It is estimated that each year in Pennsylvania over
9 800,000 households experience domestic violence; and that,
10 during the course of their lifetime, approximately 1,107,395
11 Pennsylvania women, children and men will be victims of sexual
12 assault; and
13 WHEREAS, As a result of the General Assembly's 1988
14 amendments to the Protection From Abuse Act, Statewide service
1 providers for victims of domestic violence have experienced a
2 dramatic increase in requests for services from domestic
3 violence victims seeking protection orders and in the number of
4 hours devoted to providing these services; and
5 WHEREAS, From fiscal year 1980-1981 through fiscal year 1987-
6 1988, the number of recipients of domestic violence counseling
7 services and shelter services increased 457.88% and 546.54%,
8 respectively, while State funding for programs providing the
9 services has increased only 189.14%; and
10 WHEREAS, The number of adult victims and child victims served
11 by rape crisis centers from fiscal year 1984-1985 through fiscal
12 year 1987-1988 increased 129% and 109%, respectively, while
13 State funding for rape crisis services has increased only 57.8%;
14 and
15 WHEREAS, It is essential that the current level of services
16 provided by domestic violence programs and rape crisis centers
17 be maintained or increased as a result of the rising numbers of
18 domestic violence and sexual assault incidents in Pennsylvania;
19 and
20 WHEREAS, It is important that, in addition to providing
21 services to victims of sexual and domestic violence, rape crisis
22 centers and domestic violence programs continue to offer State-
23 required prevention education programs to schools and
24 communities; and
25 WHEREAS, It is in the public interest of this Commonwealth to
26 provide adequate financial assistance for domestic violence
27 centers and rape crisis services for the operation of their
28 respective programs due to the increasing number of incidents of
29 domestic violence and sexual violence; therefore be it
30 RESOLVED, That the Speaker of the House of Representatives
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1 appoint a select committee of nine members, five from the
2 majority party and four from the minority party, to study the
3 need and availability of funding for domestic violence and rape
4 crisis services; and be it further
5 RESOLVED, That, in carrying out its duties, the select
6 committee may exercise all powers permitted to be exercised by
7 standing committees as provided for the in the Rules of the
8 House of Representatives; and be it further
9 RESOLVED, That the select committee may hold hearings, take
10 testimony and make its investigations at such places as it deems
11 necessary in this Commonwealth. Each member of the select
12 committee shall have power to administer oaths and affirmations
13 to witnesses appearing before the select committee; and be it
14 further
15 RESOLVED, That the select committee make a report of its
16 findings and recommendations to the House of Representatives
17 within a period of six months.
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