SJ80: Brain injury services; JLARC to study progress made by the Commonwealth in expanding access.
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 80
WHEREAS, an estimated 190,000 Virginians are disabled as a result of traumatic brain injury and stroke, and annually over 28,000 Virginians are hospitalized because of a traumatic brain injury; and
WHEREAS, brain injury is an issue that extends across the lifespan and occurs as a result of concussions, roadside bombs and blasts, falls, motor vehicle accidents, and assaults; and
WHEREAS, in 2007 the General Assembly directed the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to study access to brain injury services in the Commonwealth and found that access to brain injury services in the Commonwealth was inadequate and further found that services such as intensive neurobehavioral treatment programs, cognitive rehabilitation, supportive housing, and transportation were needed; and
WHEREAS, in its 2007 study, the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission made several recommendations aimed at increasing access to brain injury services; 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 progress made by the Commonwealth in expanding access to brain injury services.
In conducting its study, the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) shall (i) identify, and determine the extent of, progress made by the Commonwealth in implementing the recommendations of the 2007 JLARC report, "Access to State-Funded Brain Injury Services in Virginia," and identify areas in which no progress has been made; (ii) make further recommendations for increasing access to brain injury services; and (iii) consider any other related matters as the Commission deems appropriate to meet the objectives of this study.
Technical assistance shall be provided to the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission by the Department of Aging and Rehabilitative Services. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to JLARC for this study, upon request.
The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission shall complete its meetings by November 30, 2014, 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 2015 Regular Session of the General Assembly. The executive summary shall state whether JLARC 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.