SJ395: Substance abuse; JLARC to study impact of issue related thereto on state & local fiscal expenditure.

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 395
Offered January 10, 2007
Prefiled January 10, 2007
Directing the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to study the impact of issues related to substance abuse on state and local fiscal expenditures. Report.
Patron-- Hanger

Referred to Committee on Rules

WHEREAS, Virginia has received significant federal funding from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, including nearly $43 million dollars during fiscal years 2005-2006 to address substance abuse and prevention; and

WHEREAS, despite such financial support, substance abuse continues to produce many social ills at the local level; and

WHEREAS, this burden includes teenage pregnancies, unmarried parents, premature births, and fetal alcohol syndrome, and drug abuse by a pregnant women triples the likelihood that her baby will have serious medical problems; and

WHEREAS, the vast majority of criminal offenses are committed while under the influence and many repeat offenders have addictions to alcohol and drugs; and

WHEREAS, the adverse impact of substance abuse on families and society in Virginia requires further review of state and local expenditures; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission be directed to study the impact of issues related to substance abuse on state and local fiscal expenditures. The study should consider social problems aggravated by substance abuse including, but not limited to, teenage pregnancy, out-of-wedlock births, sexually transmitted diseases, domestic violence, broken families, homelessness, crime, and poor school performance.

In conducting its study, the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission shall examine existing programs, the need for new programs, and funding initiatives that could potentially save significant sums of money by focusing on prevention and treatment of substance abuse. 

Technical assistance shall be provided to the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission by the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation, and Substance Abuse Services. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission for this study, upon request.

The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission shall complete its meetings by November 30, 2007, 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 2008 Regular Session of the General Assembly. The executive summary shall state whether the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission 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.