ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION No. 144

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

INTRODUCED MARCH 20, 1997

By Assemblyman COLLINS and Assemblywoman HECK

An Assembly Resolution creating a domestic violence task force.

Whereas, There is a continuing need for the Legislature, the public     and professionals in the fields of family law and domestic violence     to remain involved in the development and implementation of     effective protective legislation for victims of family violence; and

Whereas, In order for the Legislature to maintain a realistic sense of     the needs of this vulnerable population, the various parties with     expertise in this field should have input in determining the          effectiveness of previously enacted statutes; and

Whereas, Ongoing discussions in the Assembly Policy and             Regulatory Oversight Committee suggest a need for an examination     of related issues such as cost effectiveness of domestic violence     programs, the training of professionals who interact with victims,     and certain ambiguities in the current law on domestic violence;     now, therefore,

    Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

    1. There is hereby established the Assembly Task Force on Domestic Violence. The task force shall be comprised of 14 members. Eight public members shall have knowledge in the field of domestic violence and shall be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly. Six members shall be members of the General Assembly to be appointed by the Speaker, no more than four of whom shall be from the same political party.

    2. The task force shall review the effectiveness of current programs and other ongoing efforts related to domestic violence.

    3. a. The task force shall organize as soon as possible after the appointment of its members. The Speaker shall appoint a chairman and a vice-chairman from among its members. The chairman may appoint a secretary who need not be a member of the task force.

    b. The task force shall meet at the call of its chair at the times and in the places it may deem appropriate and necessary to fulfill its charge.

    c. The task force shall be entitled to call to its assistance and avail itself of the services and assistance of the officials and employees of the State and its political subdivisions and their departments, boards, bureaus, commission and agencies as it may be available to it for the purpose of the task force and may expend those funds as may be appropriated or other wise made available to and for purpose of its study.

    4. The task force shall issue a report to the Speaker and the General Assembly, along with any recommendations it may have for legislative bills within 180 days.

STATEMENT

    This Assembly Resolution creates a fourteen member task force to review the effectiveness of current programs and other ongoing efforts related to domestic violence. The task force shall include eight public members and six members of the Legislature, no more than four of whom shall be from the same party. This Assembly Resolution directs the task force to submit a report to the speaker and the General Assembly within 180 days with recommendations for legislative bills.

Establishes the Domestic Violence Task Force.