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.
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