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Regular Session, 2013 ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 95
BY SENATOR WALSWORTH
A RESOLUTION
To urge and request 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.
WHEREAS, domestic violence is detrimental to the safety and psychological well-
being of Louisiana's citizens; and
WHEREAS, the state of Louisiana must maximize its resources to provide services
to the victims of domestic violence in a manner that prioritizes safety and results in long-
term, sustainable outcomes; and
WHEREAS, domestic violence funding in Louisiana is currently based on a model
which is mainly focused on shelters as opposed to models directed at primary and secondary
prevention programs with documented successful outcome measures; and
WHEREAS, research is warranted to determine whether Louisiana families would
receive a greater benefit from programs that focus on the root causes of domestic violence,
before victims are forced to utilize a shelter; and
WHEREAS, the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act encourages states to
implement comprehensive plans for domestic violence response.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
urge and request the Department of Children and Family Services to collaborate with the
following stakeholders to study and develop a comprehensive statewide plan for domestic
violence services:
(1)A representative of the Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
(2)A representative of the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement.
(3)A representative of the Louisiana Foundation Against Sexual Assault. SR NO. 95 ENROLLED
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(4)A representative of the Louisiana Women's Policy and Research Commission.
(5)A representative of the Louisiana Association of Chiefs of Police.
(6)A representative of the Louisiana District Attorneys Association.
(7)A representative of the Louisiana Sheriffs' Association.
(8)A representative of the Louisiana Supreme Court Judicial Administrator's
Office, with expertise in the administration of the Louisiana Protective Order
Registry.
(9)A representative of the Louisiana Department of Justice, office of the
attorney general.
(10) A representative of the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, office
of public health.
(11)A representative of the Louisiana Public Defender Board.
(12)A representative of the District Judges Association.
(13)A representative of the Louisiana Council of Juvenile and Family Court
Judges.
(14)A domestic violence survivor.
(15)A domestic violence program director.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the department along with the stakeholders shall
develop a plan that includes but is not limited to all of the following:
(1)Development of a state needs assessment and a comprehensive and integrated
service delivery approach that meets the needs of all domestic violence
victims.
(2)Establishment of a method to transition domestic violence service providers
towards evidence-based national best practices focusing on outreach and
prevention.
(3)Development of a plan that ensures that Louisiana laws on domestic violence
are being properly implemented and provides for training on domestic
violence and its many dimensions to law enforcement and the judiciary.
(4)Development of a framework to collect and integrate data and measure
program outcomes. SR NO. 95 ENROLLED
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department shall provide its
recommendations of this in the form of a report to the Senate Committee on Health and
Welfare on or before January 15, 2014.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
Secretary of the Department of Children and Family Services.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE