07 LC 28
3459/AP
House
Resolution 322 (AS PASSED HOUSE AND SENATE)
By:
Representatives Harbin of the
118th,
Smith of the
113th,
and Burkhalter of the
50th
A
RESOLUTION
Creating
the Joint Study Committee on Continuing Education and Collegiate Sports Programs
for Students with Disabilities; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS,
the Georgia Department of Education's 2005/6 Report Card reported that 12
percent or approximately 10,300 of our state's 86,065 students enrolled in grade
12 have a disability such as a physical disability; and
WHEREAS,
Georgia's disabled population continues to rise each year due to war-injured
veterans returning from Iraq and elsewhere and other health risk factors;
and
WHEREAS,
the Georgia Department of Labor, the Georgia Department of Education, and the
Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia should work together to
provide continuing education and team sport collegiate activities for persons
with disabilities; and
WHEREAS,
continuing education, therapeutic, and organized sports programs for individuals
with special needs provide our youth with an opportunity to represent their
state and country in sporting events, serve as role models, and obtain
postsecondary education; and
WHEREAS,
Georgia currently has well organized school and community based programs, like
BlazeSports Georgia and the American Association of Adapted Sports Programs,
that provide sports and physical activity opportunities for Georgians with
disabilities; and
WHEREAS,
studies show that the physical, mental, and social benefits from participation
by individuals with disabilities in sports and physical activity programs are
wide accepted; and
WHEREAS,
it has become necessary for the State of Georgia to explore policies to identify
and create opportunities for disabled individuals in Georgia to further assist
in their development and societal integration.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA that there is
created the Joint Study Committee on Continuing Education and Collegiate Sports
Programs for Students with Disabilities to be composed of five members of the
House of Representatives to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of
Representatives and five members of the Senate to be appointed by the President
of the Senate. The Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President
of the Senate shall each designate a member of the committee who shall serve as
cochairpersons of the committee. The committee shall meet at the call of the
cochairpersons.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee shall undertake a study of what
alternatives are open to the General Assembly to identify and create
opportunities for student athletes with disabilities at the collegiate level and
explore the development of pilot programs, recruitment of athletes, and
nonprofit and private sector support for different collegiate programs. The
committee shall also explore current high school, community, and collegiate
sports programs and facilities.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee shall meet four times at locations
throughout the State of Georgia to be determined by the cochairpersons. The
members of the committee shall receive the allowances provided for in Code
Section 28-1-8 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated. The allowances
authorized by this resolution shall not be received by any member of the
committee for more than four days unless additional days are authorized. The
funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution shall come from
the funds appropriated to the Senate and the House of Representatives. In the
event that 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 the convening of the 2008 session of the General Assembly at which time
the committee shall stand abolished.