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2001 SESSION

013561576
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 683
Offered January 10, 2001
Prefiled January 10, 2001
Continuing the Special Task Force Studying Ways Faith-Based Community Service Groups May Provide Assistance to Meet Social Needs.
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Patrons-- McDonnell, Cox and McClure
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Referred to Committee on Rules
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WHEREAS, House Joint Resolution No. 764 of 1999 established a Special Task Force to Study Ways Faith-Based Groups May Provide Assistance to Meet Social Needs; and

WHEREAS, House Joint Resolution No. 291 of 2000 continued that Special Task Force; and

WHEREAS, beginning in 1996 with the adoption by Congress of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act, "charitable choice" language has been added to a wide range of federal social service programs to expand opportunities for faith-based organizations to compete for government funds to provide services; and

WHEREAS, federal funds covering substance abuse treatment, welfare, Welfare to Work, and Community Services Block Grants include "charitable choice" language; and

WHEREAS, additional applications of "charitable choice" are now on the table in Congress, including fatherhood initiatives, juvenile justice, public health, and literacy; and

WHEREAS, the new administration has declared a commitment to expanding this concept to new areas of funding, including the creation of a high-level Office of Faith-Based Initiatives; and

WHEREAS, the Special Task Force has made several recommendations for the expansion of the "charitable choice" provisions in state government and is actively working with the new Liaison Office within the Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Resources to expand opportunities for faith-based and charitable organizations to get involved in the provision of human services, and continued oversight is considered necessary and desirable; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the Special Task Force Studying Ways Faith-Based Community Service Groups May Provide Assistance to Meet Social Needs be continued. The Special Task Force shall consist of 14 members, which shall include eight legislative members and six nonlegislative and ex officio members as follows: five members of the House of Delegates, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House in accordance with the principles of proportional representation contained in the Rules of the House of Delegates; three members of the Senate, to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections; five citizen members, three of whom shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House and two of whom shall be appointed by the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections; and the Lieutenant Governor. Staffing shall continue to be provided by the Division of Legislative Services.

All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the Special Task Force, upon request.

The direct costs of this study shall not exceed $12,500.

The Special Task Force shall complete its work in time to submit its written findings and recommendations by December 20, 2001, to the Governor and the 2002 Session of the General Assembly as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents.

Implementation of this resolution is subject to subsequent approval and certification by the Joint Rules Committee. The Committee may withhold expenditures or delay the period for the conduct of the study.