PRINTER'S NO. 4333
No. 670 Session of 2002
INTRODUCED BY BEBKO-JONES, G. WRIGHT, SAYLOR, YUDICHAK,
DONATUCCI, SATHER, YOUNGBLOOD, M. WRIGHT, SANTONI,
WOJNAROSKI, ROSS, DeWEESE, DERMODY, DeLUCA, LEWIS, LEVDANSKY,
LEDERER, WILT, WATSON, WATERS, WASHINGTON, ROONEY, ROEBUCK,
LAUGHLIN, CREIGHTON, COY, CORRIGAN, COLEMAN, M. COHEN,
L. I. COHEN, KELLER, JOSEPHS, JAMES, HUTCHINSON, VANCE,
PIPPY, PICKETT, CLYMER, HESS, HERSHEY, TRAVAGLIO, TIGUE,
THOMAS, MUNDY, S. MILLER, MELIO, McNAUGHTON, STERN, HERMAN,
HENNESSEY, HASAY, HARPER, CAWLEY, CAPPELLI, CALTAGIRONE,
BROWNE, BISHOP, HARHAI, GRUCELA, GORDNER, GEORGE, RUBLEY,
ROBERTS, PISTELLA, NAILOR, BROOKS, READSHAW, LESCOVITZ,
T. ARMSTRONG, M. BAKER, BARD, BELARDI, BELFANTI, BENNINGHOFF,
D. EVANS, J. EVANS, FICHTER, FLEAGLE, MANN, FORCIER, FRANKEL,
GABIG, GEIST, MANDERINO, McCALL, McGILL, MARSICO,
E. Z. TAYLOR, McILHATTAN, STABACK, SOLOBAY, B. SMITH, SHANER,
SCRIMENTI, SCHULER, SCHRODER, SCAVELLO, MACKERETH, STEELMAN,
STURLA AND SAINATO, SEPTEMBER 30, 2002
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
SEPTEMBER 30, 2002
A RESOLUTION
1 Designating the month of October as "Domestic Violence Awareness
2 Month" in Pennsylvania.
3 WHEREAS, At least 800,000 Pennsylvanians each year are
4 victims of domestic violence; and
5 WHEREAS, Approximately 1,800 murders nationally are
6 attributed to domestic violence each year; and
7 WHEREAS, According to statistics of the Federal Bureau of
8 Investigation, a woman is beaten every 15 seconds; and
9 WHEREAS, Pennsylvania is the first state in the nation to
10 institute domestic violence universal screening; and
1 WHEREAS, The importance of screening patients for symptoms of
2 domestic violence was emphasized by this legislature most
3 recently by the enactment of the act of December 3, 1998
4 (P.L.925, No.115), known as the Domestic Violence Health Care
5 Response Act, which establishes the Domestic Violence Health
6 Care Response Program; and
7 WHEREAS, For the third straight year, the Family Violence
8 Prevention Fund has designated Pennsylvania as the only state in
9 the nation to receive an "A" grade in regards to its domestic
10 violence health care laws; and
11 WHEREAS, According to the Department of Justice, nearly 50%
12 of all domestic violence acts are witnessed by children; and
13 WHEREAS, It is estimated that nearly 4 million women are
14 physically abused each year throughout the United States; and
15 WHEREAS, Battery is a leading cause of injury to women; and
16 WHEREAS, Studies show that battered women who work face a
17 high likelihood of losing their jobs because of domestic
18 violence: 55% missed work and over 60% were late for work; and
19 WHEREAS, All Pennsylvanians should be made aware of the
20 multitude of symptoms and signs associated with domestic
21 violence; and
22 WHEREAS, Approximately only 10% of primary care physicians
23 across the nation routinely screen patients for partner abuse
24 when not currently injured; therefore be it
25 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the
26 month of October 2002 as "Domestic Violence Awareness Month" in
27 Pennsylvania; and be it further
28 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives encourage all
29 Pennsylvanians to learn more about the causes, signs, prevention
30 and treatment for domestic violence.
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