Bill Text: GA SR563 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Introduced

Georgia Senate Resolution 563 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Senate Study Committee on Drug Courts and Addictive Drugs; create

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2009-03-10 - Senate Read and Referred [SR563 Detail]

Download: Georgia-2009-SR563-Introduced.html

09 LC 94 1042

Senate Resolution 563

By: Senators Thompson of the 33rd, Stoner of the 6th, Wiles of the 37th, Rogers of the 21st and Hill of the 32nd

A RESOLUTION

Creating the Senate Study Committee on Drug Courts and Addictive Drugs; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, drug addiction is a growing problem in today's society and threatens to tear apart families and entire communities; and

WHEREAS, abuse of addictive drugs can lead to health issues, overdose, and death for the user, while the community in which addicts live suffer from increased health problems, high crime rates, and unemployment; and

WHEREAS, drug courts divert nonviolent substance abuse offenders from jail and provide them with the opportunity to obtain much-needed substance abuse treatment; and

WHEREAS, drug courts have been shown to reduce the risk of repeat offenses and help break the cycle of alcohol and drug use, criminal behavior, and incarceration; and

WHEREAS, national research has shown that drug courts reduce crime by lowering rearrest and conviction rates, improving substance abuse treatment outcomes, providing governments with cost savings, and reuniting families; and

WHEREAS, research is needed to determine if Georgia's drug courts have had the same success as those in other states and whether funding to these programs should be increased or decreased; and

WHEREAS, a comprehensive study of the issues and facts relating to drug addiction in the State of Georgia and the effectiveness of Georgia's drug courts is needed to protect the health of the state's citizens.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that there is created the Senate Study Committee on Drug Courts and Addictive Drugs to be composed of five members to be appointed by the President of the Senate who shall designate one member as chairperson. The chairperson shall call all meetings of the committee.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee shall undertake a study of the effect addictive drugs have upon the families and economic health of Georgia's communities and the effectiveness of Georgia's Drug Courts in decreasing repeat criminal offenses of those individuals addicted to drugs. Furthermore, the committee shall recommend any action or legislation which the committee deems necessary or appropriate. The committee may conduct such meetings at such places and at such times as it may deem necessary or convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform its duties, and accomplish the objectives and purposes of this resolution. The members of the committee shall receive the allowances provided for in Code Section 28-1-8 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated. The allowances authorized by this resolution shall not be received by any member of the committee for more than five days unless additional days are authorized. The funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution shall come from the funds appropriated to the Senate. In the event the committee makes a report of its findings and recommendations, with suggestions for proposed legislation, if any, such report shall be made on or before December 31, 2009. The committee shall stand abolished on December 31, 2009.