hr1632_HR_1632_FA_3.html
08 HR 1632/FA
House Resolution 1632 (AM)
By: Representatives Butler of the 18th, O`Neal of the 146th, Abrams of the 84th, Hill of the 180th, and Mumford of the 95th

A RESOLUTION


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

WHEREAS, the 2000 United States Census stated that more than 600,000 individuals in Georgia have physical disabilities, not including those persons residing in institutions; and

WHEREAS, there were 3/4 million individuals over age 65 living in Georgia in 2000; this population is projected to reach nearly 2 million by 2030, and many of these individuals will experience mobility impairment in their lifetime; and

WHEREAS, accessibility renovation is costly, and additionally, many Georgians must enter assisted living facilities because they cannot return to their own inaccessible homes after hospitalization; and

WHEREAS, the majority of new houses built today are not accessible to individuals with significant mobility impairments, and such houses impose barriers to individuals within their own homes and also between these individuals and their communities; and

WHEREAS, recent research has shown that a minimum of one in four houses will at some time have a resident with severe, long-term mobility impairment; and

WHEREAS, advocates assert that minor adjustments to new home designs would allow individuals with mobility impairments to enjoy access to the homes of their friends and extended family as well as reducing the need for costly renovations in the future, and such advocates propose mandates to bring about these adjustments; and

WHEREAS, the homebuilding industry is experiencing a serious loss of revenue at this time due to a steep decline in new housing starts; and

WHEREAS, the Georgia homebuilding trade groups support voluntary responses to meet the need for home access but in general oppose mandates to achieve this goal; and

WHEREAS, it would be beneficial for those who advocate for construction mandates and those who oppose such mandates to reach mutually agreeable legislative solutions; and

WHEREAS, it is important for the House of Representatives to receive and consider information relating to the issue of a basic level of accessibility in new homes.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that there is created the House Study Committee on Accessibility to be composed of six
members of the House of Representatives to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The Speaker shall designate a member of the committee as chairperson of the committee. The chairperson shall call all meetings of the committee.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee shall undertake a study of the conditions, needs, and issues mentioned above or related thereto and recommend any action 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 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 three 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 House of Representatives. 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 1, 2008. The committee shall stand abolished on December 1, 2008.