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2011 SESSION

11101870D
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 350
Offered January 12, 2011
Prefiled January 11, 2011
Continuing the Joint Subcommittee to Study Strategies and Models for Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment. Report.
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Patron-- Hanger
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Referred to Committee on Rules
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WHEREAS, Senate Joint Resolution No. 77 (2008) established the Joint Subcommittee to Study Strategies and Models for Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment; and

WHEREAS, Senate Joint Resolution No. 318 (2009) continued the study for one year to continue to identify and characterize the nature of substance abuse in the Commonwealth; identify current state policies and programs targeting substance abuse prevention and treatment; examine the cost of such policies and programs to the Commonwealth; identify and examine policies and prevention programs from other leading states in the field of substance abuse and prevention; and benchmark the Commonwealth's substance abuse prevention and treatment programs and policies against those of the leading states; and

WHEREAS, Senate Joint Resolution 73 (2010) last continued the study to identify and characterize the nature of substance abuse in the Commonwealth; identify current state policies and programs targeting substance abuse prevention and treatment; examine the cost of such policies and programs to the Commonwealth; identify and examine policies and prevention programs from other leading states in the field of substance abuse and prevention; and benchmark the Commonwealth's substance abuse prevention and treatment programs and policies against those of the leading states; and

WHEREAS, through 2010 the work groups of the Joint Subcommittee to Study Strategies and Models for Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment met numerous times to develop recommendations for the treatment and prevention of substance abuse and the Joint Subcommittee to Study Strategies and Models for Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment met four times to carry out its work pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 73; and

WHEREAS, the Joint Subcommittee to Study Strategies and Models for Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment and its work groups proposed a number of recommendations related to the prevention and treatment of substance abuse in the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, the Joint Subcommittee to Study Strategies and Models for Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment recognizes that current activities related to health care reform and other statutory and policy changes occurring at the federal and state level create a situation in which additional legislative action may be required to ensure successful implementation of recommendations developed during the 2010 interim; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the Joint Subcommittee to Study Strategies and Models for Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment be continued. The joint subcommittee shall have a total membership of 11 members that shall consist of two members of the Senate appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules; three members of the House of Delegates 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 appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules; two nonlegislative citizen members representing private or nonprofit organizations dedicated to substance abuse prevention or treatment appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates; and the Commissioner of Social Services, the Commissioner of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, and the Director of the Department of Corrections or their designees to serve ex officio with nonvoting privileges. Nonlegislative citizen members of the joint subcommittee shall be citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The current members of the Senate Committee on Rules shall continue to serve until replaced. The current members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates shall be subject to reappointment. 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) continue to process information received and models and strategies for the prevention and treatment of substance abuse identified during the 2010 interim, (ii) continue to study statutory and policy changes occurring at the federal and state level that may affect the implementation of strategies and models for the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, and (iii) develop recommendations for statutory, regulatory, or other policy changes to address the problem of substance abuse in the Commonwealth.

Administrative staff support shall continue to 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 continue to 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 2011 interim, and the direct costs of this study shall not exceed $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, 2011, 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 2012 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 2011 interim.