1-1  By:  Zaffirini                                        S.C.R. No. 17
    1-2        (In the Senate - Filed January 16, 1995; January 19, 1995,
    1-3  read first time and referred to Committee on Criminal Justice;
    1-4  January 31, 1995, reported adversely, with favorable Committee
    1-5  Substitute by the following vote:  Yeas 6, Nays 0;
    1-6  January 31, 1995, sent to printer.)
    1-7  COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.C.R. No. 17               By:  Zaffirini
    1-8                     SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
    1-9        WHEREAS, Experts consider domestic violence to be a learned
   1-10  behavior in many instances, which indicates that effective
   1-11  intervention requires a therapeutic approach; and
   1-12        WHEREAS, Outcome studies have shown that completion of
   1-13  batterers intervention programs does help men develop better
   1-14  communication skills, learn to abate anger, learn conflict
   1-15  resolution skills, gain respect and reduce animosity toward women;
   1-16  and
   1-17        WHEREAS, Many perpetrators of domestic violence are not
   1-18  provided an opportunity to modify their abusive behavior because of
   1-19  a lack of intervention programs in Texas; and
   1-20        WHEREAS, In 1989, the 71st Legislature established the
   1-21  Battering Intervention and Prevention Project as part of the
   1-22  community justice assistance division of the Texas Department of
   1-23  Criminal Justice; the project, Texas' first direct involvement in
   1-24  domestic violence prevention through specialized programs to
   1-25  rehabilitate offenders, is a vital supplement to law enforcement
   1-26  and criminal justice systems in responding to domestic violence;
   1-27  now, therefore, be it
   1-28        RESOLVED, That the 74th Legislature of the State of Texas
   1-29  hereby request the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to raise
   1-30  the funding priority of all diversion-targeted programs including,
   1-31  but not limited to, battering intervention and prevention programs
   1-32  in order to increase offender services and provide adequate
   1-33  counseling; and, be it further
   1-34        RESOLVED, That the 74th Legislature of the State of Texas
   1-35  hereby request that any additional discretionary funds be used to
   1-36  fund new and innovative programs which include, but are not limited
   1-37  to, battering intervention and prevention programs.
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