PRINTER'S NO. 1633
No. 165 Session of 2001
INTRODUCED BY BUTKOVITZ, J. TAYLOR, KENNEY, KELLER AND LEDERER,
APRIL 24, 2001
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON RULES, APRIL 24, 2001
A RESOLUTION
1 Authorizing and directing the Subcommittee on Cities, Counties -
2 First Class of the Urban Affairs Committee to conduct an
3 investigation into the problems relating to school violence
4 and possession of weapons in the Philadelphia School
5 District.
6 WHEREAS, The House of Representatives adopted House
7 Resolution 303, during the 1999-2000 session of the General
8 Assembly, which directed the Subcommittee on Cities, Counties -
9 First Class of the Urban Affairs Committee to conduct an
10 investigation into the problems relating to school violence and
11 the possession of weapons in the Philadelphia School District;
12 and
13 WHEREAS, The investigation consisted of over 250 interviews
14 and seven public hearings and led to the enactment of the safe
15 schools advocate legislation in Act 91 of 2000; and
16 WHEREAS, The subcommittee issued a comprehensive report in
17 November 2000 which set forth its findings; and
18 WHEREAS, The subcommittee report stated that, "[h]aving
19 acquired a unique insight and the necessary experience culled
1 from eleven months of investigating violence in the Philadelphia
2 School District, this Committee desires to continue this
3 investigation and have the investigation again placed under its
4 jurisdiction" and that "[i]t is therefore the intention of this
5 Committee to request authorization from the full House of
6 Representatives to continue this investigation"; and
7 WHEREAS, The subcommittee report also concluded that violence
8 is a very serious problem in the school district and that this
9 problem had been heightened by the school district's prior
10 refusal to recognize the existence and severity of the problem;
11 and
12 WHEREAS, There is substantial concern about the school
13 district's willingness and capacity to institute the reforms
14 necessary to address the climate of violence in the school
15 district; and
16 WHEREAS, A number of other important school violence issues
17 require additional examination and study, including, but not
18 limited to, matters related to discipline, expulsion procedures,
19 the impact of special education and the capacity of Philadelphia
20 public school officials to adopt and implement necessary
21 reforms; and
22 WHEREAS, The most effective way to achieve the purpose of
23 this resolution is to take advantage of the expertise and
24 knowledge acquired by members who participated in the
25 investigation authorized by House Resolution 303 of the prior
26 session; therefore be it
27 RESOLVED, That the Subcommittee on Cities, Counties - First
28 Class of the Urban Affairs Committee be authorized and directed
29 to examine, investigate and make a complete study of any and all
30 matters relating to the problems of violence, possession of
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1 weapons in the Philadelphia School District and the failure of
2 the Philadelphia School District to effectively deal with the
3 problem of weapons and violence in its schools; and be it
4 further
5 RESOLVED, That the subcommittee may hold hearings, take
6 testimony and conduct its investigations at such places in this
7 Commonwealth as it deems necessary. The subcommittee may issue
8 subpoenas under the hand and seal of the chairman commanding any
9 person to appear before the subcommittee and to answer questions
10 touching matters properly being inquired into by the
11 subcommittee and to produce such books, papers, records and
12 documents as the subcommittee deems necessary. The subpoenas may
13 be served upon any person and shall have the same effect as
14 subpoenas issued out of the courts of this Commonwealth, and any
15 person who willfully neglects or refuses to testify before the
16 subcommittee or to produce any books, papers, records or
17 documents shall be subject to the penalties provided by the laws
18 of this Commonwealth in such case. Each member of the
19 subcommittee shall have the power to administer oaths and
20 affirmations to witnesses appearing before the subcommittee; and
21 be it further
22 RESOLVED, That the subcommittee be authorized to hire or
23 contract for such staff as it deems necessary and that expenses
24 incurred by the subcommittee be paid from accounts under the
25 control of the Chief Clerk; and be it further
26 RESOLVED, That the subcommittee report its findings, together
27 with its recommendation for remedial legislation or other
28 appropriate action, at the earliest practicable date to the
29 House of Representatives.
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