By: Zaffirini S.C.R. No. 17 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1-1 WHEREAS, Experts consider domestic violence to be a learned 1-2 behavior in many instances, which indicates that effective 1-3 intervention requires a therapeutic approach; and 1-4 WHEREAS, Outcome studies have shown that completion of 1-5 batterers intervention programs does help men develop better 1-6 communication skills, learn to abate anger, learn conflict 1-7 resolution skills, gain respect and reduce animosity toward women; 1-8 and 1-9 WHEREAS, Many perpetrators of domestic violence are not 1-10 provided an opportunity to modify their abusive behavior because of 1-11 a lack of intervention programs in Texas; and 1-12 WHEREAS, In 1989, the 71st Legislature established the 1-13 Battering Intervention and Prevention Project as part of the 1-14 community justice assistance division of the Texas Department of 1-15 Criminal Justice; the project, Texas' first direct involvement in 1-16 domestic violence prevention through specialized programs to 1-17 rehabilitate offenders, is a vital supplement to law enforcement 1-18 and criminal justice systems in responding to domestic violence; 1-19 now, therefore, be it 1-20 RESOLVED, That the 74th Legislature of the State of Texas 1-21 hereby request the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to raise 1-22 the funding priority of all diversion-targeted programs including, 1-23 but not limited to, battering intervention and prevention programs 2-1 in order to increase offender services and provide adequate 2-2 counseling; and, be it further 2-3 RESOLVED, That the 74th Legislature of the State of Texas 2-4 hereby request that any additional discretionary funds be used to 2-5 fund new and innovative programs which include, but are not limited 2-6 to, battering intervention and prevention programs.