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2008 SESSION


SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 75
Continuing the Joint Subcommittee to Study the Comprehensive Services for At-Risk Youth and Families Program. Report.
 
Agreed to by the Senate, January 30, 2008
Agreed to by the House of Delegates, March 5, 2008
 

WHEREAS, Senate Joint Resolution No. 96 (2006) established the Joint Subcommittee to Study the Comprehensive Services Program for At-Risk Youth and Families to study the cost effectiveness of the Comprehensive Services for At-Risk Youth and Families program and to collaborate with the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission regarding its evaluation of the administration of the Comprehensive Services Act; and

WHEREAS, the joint subcommittee met three times during the 2006 interim and four times during the 2007 interim to receive information about the Comprehensive Services Program; and

WHEREAS, the joint subcommittee received the report, including recommendations, of the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission at the end of the 2006 interim; and

WHEREAS, the joint subcommittee has continued to investigate the administration of the Comprehensive Services Program and to develop a more complete understanding of the challenges inherent in administration of the Comprehensive Services Program; and

WHEREAS, the joint subcommittee recommended several pieces of legislation for action during the 2008 Session of the General Assembly; and

WHEREAS, the joint subcommittee has recommended that the study be continued to allow for further investigation and development of additional recommendations for legislative action; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the Joint Subcommittee to Study the Comprehensive Services for At-Risk Youth and Families Program be continued. The joint subcommittee shall have a total membership of 11 members that shall consist of six legislative members, three nonlegislative citizen members, and two ex officio members. Members shall be appointed as follows: two members of the Senate to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules and four members of the House of Delegates to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates in accordance with the principles of proportional representation contained in the Rules of the House of Delegates; one nonlegislative citizen member to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules; and two nonlegislative citizen members to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates. The Commissioner of Social Services or his designee and the Director of the Department of Planning and Budget or his designee shall serve ex officio with voting privileges. Nonlegislative citizen members of the joint subcommittee shall be citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The current members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates shall be subject to reappointment. The current members appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules shall continue to serve until replaced. Vacancies shall be filled by the original appointing authority. Unless otherwise approved in writing by the chairman of the joint subcommittee and the respective clerk, nonlegislative citizen members shall only be reimbursed for travel originating and ending within the Commonwealth of Virginia for the purpose of attending meetings. If a companion joint resolution of the other chamber is agreed to, written authorization of both clerks shall be required. The joint subcommittee shall elect a chairman and vice-chairman from among its membership, who shall be members of the General Assembly.

In conducting its study, the joint subcommittee shall (i) study the structure of the Comprehensive Services program, including the role of local government, state government, community-based service providers, residential service providers and other stakeholders, (ii) identify alternate methods of providing services to at-risk youth and families, (iii) review the cost of the Comprehensive Services Act program, (iv) identify ways to limit costs and increase the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery to at-risk youth and families, and (v) develop recommendations for the 2009 General Assembly Session.

Administrative staff support shall be provided by the Office of the Clerk of the Senate. Legal, research, policy analysis, and other services as requested by the joint subcommittee shall be provided by the Division of Legislative Services. Technical assistance shall continue to be provided by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission, Office of Comprehensive Services, and the Departments of Social Services, Education, Juvenile Justice, and Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the joint subcommittee for this study, upon request.

The joint subcommittee shall be limited to four meetings for the 2008 interim, and the direct costs of this study shall not exceed $7,200 without approval as set out in this resolution. Approval for unbudgeted nonmember-related expenses shall require the written authorization of the chairman of the joint subcommittee and the respective Clerk. If a companion joint resolution of the other chamber is agreed to, written authorization of both Clerks shall be required.

No recommendation of the joint subcommittee shall be adopted if a majority of the Senate members or a majority of the House members appointed to the joint subcommittee (i) vote against the recommendation and (ii) vote for the recommendation to fail notwithstanding the majority vote of the joint subcommittee.

The joint subcommittee shall complete its meetings by November 30, 2008, and the chairman shall submit to the Division of Legislative Automated Systems an executive summary of its findings and recommendations no later than the first day of the 2009 Regular Session of the General Assembly. The executive summary shall state whether the joint subcommittee intends to submit to the General Assembly and the Governor a report of its findings and recommendations for publication as a House or Senate document. The executive summary and report shall be submitted as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.

Implementation of this resolution is subject to subsequent approval and certification by the Joint Rules Committee. The Committee may approve or disapprove expenditures for this study, extend or delay the period for the conduct of the study, or authorize additional meetings during the 2008 interim.