PRINTER'S NO. 13
No. 9 Session of 2007
INTRODUCED BY GREENLEAF, O'PAKE, RAFFERTY, STOUT, STACK, BOSCOLA, TARTAGLIONE, FONTANA, MUSTO, WONDERLING, C. WILLIAMS, BRUBAKER, WASHINGTON, WOZNIAK, TOMLINSON AND BROWNE, JANUARY 24, 2007
REFERRED TO JUDICIARY, JANUARY 24, 2007
A RESOLUTION 1 Directing the Joint State Government Commission to study the 2 issue of violent crime, to establish an advisory committee to 3 review proposals that address the issue of violent crime and 4 to report to the Senate with its findings and 5 recommendations. 6 WHEREAS, Pennsylvania cities of all sizes are experiencing 7 significant violent crime often related to drug trafficking, 8 gangs and violence using guns; and 9 WHEREAS, Violent crime affects all Pennsylvanians, including 10 the law enforcement officers who put their lives on the line 11 every day to protect us by preserving the peace; and 12 WHEREAS, In looking at ways to address violent crime, the 13 General Assembly should recognize the increasing problem of 14 violence against police officers; and 15 WHEREAS, In recent months, both houses of the General 16 Assembly have recognized the need to address the issue of 17 violent crime; and 18 WHEREAS, The Senate Judiciary Committee held public hearings
1 on urban violence in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Altoona and 2 Harrisburg; and 3 WHEREAS, Witnesses at these public hearings made many 4 legislative and administrative recommendations that address 5 violent crime; and 6 WHEREAS, Testifying at the Harrisburg public hearing, the 7 Fraternal Order of Police proposed the formation of a Joint 8 State Government Commission advisory committee to review these 9 recommendations; and 10 WHEREAS, The House of Representatives held a Committee of the 11 Whole to discuss dozens of crime-fighting proposals; and 12 WHEREAS, There are many violence-prevention programs in place 13 around the nation that represent best practices; therefore be it 14 RESOLVED, That there is a need for a comprehensive study of 15 the proposals made to the Senate Judiciary Committee, the 16 proposals considered by the Committee of the Whole and any other 17 proposals or best practices which would help alleviate violent 18 crime; and be it further 19 RESOLVED, That the Senate direct the Joint State Government 20 Commission to study the issue of violent crime, to establish an 21 advisory committee consisting of experts on the issue of violent 22 crime, which is balanced so that it encompasses a wide range of 23 backgrounds and viewpoints, to review proposals that address the 24 issue of violent crime and develop a consensus on the 25 recommendations best suited for Pennsylvania and to report to 26 the Senate with its findings and recommendations no later than 27 November 30, 2008. L15L82DMS/20070S0009R0013 - 2 -