hr1859.html
08 LC 14 9866
House Resolution 1859
By: Representatives Benfield of the 85th, Morgan of the 39th, Gardner of the 57th, Kaiser of the 59th, and Oliver of the 83rd

A RESOLUTION


Creating the House Study Committee on Playground Safety; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, play is an important part of a child's physical, social, intellectual, and emotional development; and

WHEREAS, playgrounds and outdoor play equipment can provide children with fun and exercise, but they can also pose safety hazards; and

WHEREAS, every year over 200,000 preschool and elementary children receive emergency department care for injuries that occur on playground equipment; and

WHEREAS, the most important factors in evaluating the safety of any playground are surface, design and spacing, and equipment inspection and maintenance; and

WHEREAS, state and local governments should create, renovate, and maintain on a regular basis safe and developmentally appropriate playgrounds for children.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that there is created the House Study Committee on Playground Safety to be composed of not more than six members to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Five members of the House of Representatives shall serve as members of the committee, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall designate one of such members as chairperson. The chairperson shall call all meetings of the committee.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee shall undertake a study of the conditions, needs, issues, and problems mentioned above or related thereto and recommend any actions or legislation which the committee deems necessary or appropriate. The committee may conduct such meetings at such places and at such times as it may deem necessary or convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform its duties, and accomplish the objectives and purposes of this resolution. The legislative members of the committee shall receive the allowances provided for in Code Section 28-1-8 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated. All funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution shall come from funds appropriated to the House of Representatives. The expenses and allowances authorized by this resolution shall not be received by any member of the committee for more than five days unless additional days are authorized. In the event the committee makes a report of its findings and recommendations, with suggestions for proposed legislation, if any, such report shall be made on or before December 31, 2008. The committee shall stand abolished on December 31, 2008.