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