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2008 SESSION

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086209232
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 77 Senate Amendments in [ ] -- February 5, 2008 Establishing a joint subcommittee to study strategies and models for substance abuse prevention and treatment that effectively reduce the costly service demands created by substance abuse. Report. ---------- Patron Prior to Engrossment--Senator Hanger ---------- Referred to Committee on Rules ----------

WHEREAS, a 2005 report released by the Bureau of Justice Statistics found that 68 percent of jail inmates reported symptoms in the year before their admission to jail that met substance dependence or abuse criteria and 16 percent of convicted jail inmates said that they committed their offense to get money for drugs; and

WHEREAS, studies have found that recovery treatment services offered to offenders are successful in preventing recidivism; and

WHEREAS, recidivism remains high for offenders exhibiting substance abuse or co-occurring disorders who do not receive treatment services when diverted from jail; and

WHEREAS, the California Drug and Alcohol Treatment Assessment found that a dollar invested in alcohol and drug treatment resulted in over seven dollars in social savings due to reductions in crime and health care costs; [ and

WHEREAS, the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission is currently conducting a study pursuant to House Joint Resolution 683 and Senate Joint Resolution 395 from the 2007 Session of the General Assembly that is examining the impact of substance abuse on State and local expenditures and potential investments in substance abuse services that could maximize savings to the Commonwealth;  ]  now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That a joint subcommittee be established to study strategies and models for substance abuse prevention and treatment that effectively reduce the costly service demands created by substance abuse. The joint subcommittee shall have a total membership of  [ 14 11  ]  members that shall consist of  [ eight five  ]  legislative members, three nonlegislative citizen members, and three ex officio members. Members shall be appointed as follows:  [ three two  ]  members of the Senate to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules;  [ five three  ]  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 representing a private or nonprofit organization dedicated to substance abuse prevention or treatment programs to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules; and two nonlegislative citizen members representing a private or nonprofit organization dedicated to substance abuse prevention or treatment programs to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates. The Commissioner of Social Services, the Commissioner of the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services, and the Director of the Department of Corrections or their designees shall serve ex officio with  [ voting nonvoting  ]  privileges. Nonlegislative citizen members of the joint subcommittee shall be residents of the Commonwealth of Virginia. 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) identify and characterize the nature of substance abuse in the Commonwealth; (ii) identify current state policies and programs targeting substance abuse prevention and treatment; (iii) examine the cost of such policies and programs to the Commonwealth; (iv) identify and examine policies and prevention programs from other leading states in the field of substance abuse and prevention; and (v) benchmark the Commonwealth's substance abuse prevention and treatment programs and policies against those of the leading states.

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. 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 $ [ 9,200 6,200  ]  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.