SLS 13RS-734 ORIGINAL
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Regular Session, 2013
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 95
BY SENATOR WALSWORTH
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. Requests the Department of Children and Family Services in
collaboration with stakeholders to study and make recommendations for a comprehensive
statewide plan for the delivery of domestic violence services.
A RESOLUTION1
To urge and request the Department of Children and Family Services to collaborate with2
stakeholders to study and develop a comprehensive statewide plan for the delivery3
of domestic violence services and to report its recommendations to the Senate4
Committee on Health and Welfare on or before January 15, 2014.5
WHEREAS, domestic violence is detrimental to the safety and psychological well-6
being of Louisiana's citizens; and7
WHEREAS, the state of Louisiana must maximize its resources to provide services8
to the victims of domestic violence in a manner that prioritizes safety and results in long-9
term, sustainable outcomes; and10
WHEREAS, domestic violence funding in Louisiana is currently based on a model11
which is mainly focused on shelters as opposed to models directed at primary and secondary12
prevention programs with documented successful outcome measures; and13
WHEREAS, research is warranted to determine whether Louisiana families would14
receive a greater benefit from programs that focus on the root causes of domestic violence,15
before victims are forced to utilize a shelter; and16
WHEREAS, the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act encourages states to17
implement comprehensive plans for domestic violence response.18 SR NO. 95
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THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby1
urge and request the Department of Children and Family Services to collaborate with the2
following stakeholders to study and develop a comprehensive statewide plan for domestic3
violence services:4
(1)A representative of the Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence.5
(2)A representative of the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement.6
(3)A representative of the Louisiana Foundation Against Sexual Assault.7
(4)A representative of the Louisiana Women's Policy and Research Commission.8
(5)A representative of the Louisiana Association of Chiefs of Police.9
(6)A representative of the Louisiana District Attorneys Association.10
(7)A representative of the Louisiana Sheriffs' Association.11
(8)A representative of the Louisiana Supreme Court Judicial Administrator's12
Office, with expertise in the administration of the Louisiana Protective Order13
Registry.14
(9)A representative of the Louisiana Department of Justice, office of the15
attorney general.16
(10) A representative of the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, office17
of public health.18
(11)A representative of the Louisiana Public Defender Board.19
(12)A representative of the District Judges Association.20
(13)A representative of the Louisiana Council of Juvenile and Family Court21
Judges.22
(14)A domestic violence survivor.23
(15)A domestic violence program director.24
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the department along with the stakeholders shall25
develop a plan that includes but is not limited to all of the following:26
(1)Development of a state needs assessment and a comprehensive and integrated27
service delivery approach that meets the needs of all domestic violence28
victims.29
(2)Establishment of a method to transition domestic violence service providers30 SR NO. 95
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towards evidence-based national best practices focusing on outreach and1
prevention.2
(3)Development of a plan that ensures that Louisiana laws on domestic violence3
are being properly implemented and provides for training on domestic4
violence and its many dimensions to law enforcement and the judiciary.5
(4)Development of a framework to collect and integrate data and measure6
program outcomes.7
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Department shall provide its8
recommendations of this in the form of a report to the Senate Committee on Health and9
Welfare on or before January 15, 2014.10
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the11
Secretary of the Department of Children and Family Services.12
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Heyward Jeffers.
DIGEST
Walsworth SR No. 95
Requests the Department of Children and Family Services to collaborate with stakeholders
to study and develop a comprehensive statewide plan for the delivery of domestic violence
services and to report its recommendations to the Senate Committee on Health and Welfare
on or before January 15, 2014.