PRINTER'S NO. 2224
No. 269 Session of 2002
INTRODUCED BY ORIE, HOLL, KUKOVICH, COSTA, TARTAGLIONE, SCHWARTZ, MURPHY, EARLL, M. WHITE, STACK, BODACK, ERICKSON, O'PAKE, KASUNIC, MOWERY, LEMMOND, KITCHEN, THOMPSON, C. WILLIAMS, DENT, GREENLEAF, A. WILLIAMS, WAUGH AND WOZNIAK, SEPTEMBER 20, 2002
REFERRED TO RULES AND EXECUTIVE NOMINATIONS, SEPTEMBER 20, 2002
A RESOLUTION 1 Designating October 9, 2002, as "Health Cares About Domestic 2 Violence Day" in Pennsylvania. 3 WHEREAS, The Family Violence Prevention Fund's National 4 Health Initiative on Domestic Violence has designated October 9, 5 2002, as "Health Cares About Domestic Violence Day" across the 6 nation; and 7 WHEREAS, The importance of screening patients for symptoms of 8 domestic violence was emphasized by this legislature most 9 recently by the passage of Act 115 of 1998, which establishes 10 the Domestic Violence Health Care Response Program; and 11 WHEREAS, Pennsylvania is the first state in the United States 12 to institute domestic violence universal screening; and 13 WHEREAS, For the second year in a row the Family Violence 14 Prevention Fund (FVPF) has designated Pennsylvania as the only 15 state in the nation worthy of an "A" grade as a result of the 16 Commonwealth's Domestic Violence Health Care Laws, including the
1 Domestic Violence Health Care Response Program; and 2 WHEREAS, Health care providers are extremely vital for 3 detection and prevention of injuries related to domestic 4 violence; and 5 WHEREAS, All Pennsylvanians, particularly health care 6 providers, should be made aware of the multitude of symptoms and 7 signs associated with domestic violence; and 8 WHEREAS, Approximately only 10% of primary care physicians 9 across the nation routinely screen patients for partner abuse 10 when not currently injured; and 11 WHEREAS, Battery is a leading cause of injury to women; and 12 WHEREAS, It is estimated that nearly 4 million women are 13 physically abused each year throughout the United States; and 14 WHEREAS, Approximately 1,800 murders nationally are 15 attributed to domestic violence each year; therefore be it 16 RESOLVED, That the Senate designate October 9, 2002, as 17 "Health Cares About Domestic Violence Day"; and be it further 18 RESOLVED, That the Senate encourage all Pennsylvanians to 19 learn more about the causes, signs, prevention and treatment of 20 domestic violence. H8L82JS/20020S0269R2224 - 2 -