PRINTER'S NO. 275
No. 9 Session of 1993
INTRODUCED BY WILLIAMS, PETERSON, JONES, STOUT, RHOADES,
AFFLERBACH AND SCHWARTZ, JANUARY 25, 1993
REFERRED TO PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE, JANUARY 25, 1993
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
1 Directing the Joint State Government Commission to study the
2 issues surrounding violence as a public health concern and
3 creating a task force.
4 WHEREAS, Violence is one of the major causes of death of
5 young urban youth; and
6 WHEREAS, The human and economical costs are increasing at a
7 rapid rate; and
8 WHEREAS, No organized statutory effort exists to reduce
9 violence in this community; and
10 WHEREAS, The ability of students to achieve educational
11 excellence in a nondisruptive environment is impacting on the
12 quality of the future needs of Pennsylvania for a trained
13 quality workforce; and
14 WHEREAS, Violence is taking a major toll on the lives of
15 Pennsylvania families and communities; therefore be it
16 RESOLVED (the House of Representatives concurring), That the
17 General Assembly direct the Joint State Government Commission to
18 undertake a comprehensive review of the diverse social, health-
1 related, educational and financial costs of urban violence; and
2 be it further
3 RESOLVED, That to accomplish this goal, a task force be
4 created comprised of the majority chairman of the Public Health
5 and Welfare Committee of the Senate who will be the chairman of
6 the task force and the minority chairman of the Public Health
7 and Welfare Committee in the Senate, the majority chairman and
8 the minority chairman of the Health and Welfare Committee of the
9 House of Representatives, three members of the Senate, two from
10 the majority party and one from the minority party appointed by
11 the President pro tempore, three members of the House of
12 Representatives, two from the majority party, one from the
13 minority party appointed by the Speaker; and be it further
14 RESOLVED, That an Advisory Committee be created to assist the
15 task force and that the following persons be on the Advisory
16 Committee:
17 (1) Attorney General;
18 (2) Secretary of Health;
19 (3) Secretary of Public Welfare;
20 (4) Secretary of Education; and
21 (5) Twenty members, appointed by the Governor
22 representing the following:
23 health care providers;
24 school administrators;
25 juvenile justice system;
26 health insurance providers;
27 gang-violence monitors;
28 crisis intervention;
29 job training and employment experts; and
30 at least ten members representing families which have
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1 experienced violence in any form;
2 and be it further
3 RESOLVED, That the task force may hold hearings, take
4 testimony and make its investigations at such places as it deems
5 necessary in this Commonwealth. Each member of the committee
6 shall have power to administer oaths and affirmations to
7 witnesses appearing before the committee; and be it further
8 RESOLVED, That the task force prepare a report containing its
9 findings and if appropriate, propose necessary corrective
10 legislation, and deliver such reports to each House of the
11 General Assembly upon the conclusion of its study on or before
12 July 1, 1993.
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