PRINTER'S NO. 1323
No. 103 Session of 2001
INTRODUCED BY ORIE, EARLL, COSTA, TOMLINSON, LOGAN, MUSTO, DENT, ERICKSON AND MURPHY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2001
REFERRED TO RULES AND EXECUTIVE NOMINATIONS, SEPTEMBER 25, 2001
A RESOLUTION 1 Designating October 10, 2001, as "Health Cares About Domestic 2 Violence Day" in Pennsylvania. 3 WHEREAS, The Family Violence Prevention Fund's National 4 Health Initiative on Domestic Violence has designated October 5 10, 2001, "Health Cares About Domestic Violence Day" across the 6 nation; and 7 WHEREAS, The importance of screening patients for symptoms of 8 domestic violence was emphasized by this legislature most 9 recently by the passage of Act 115 of 1998, which establishes 10 the Domestic Violence Health Care Response Program; and 11 WHEREAS, Pennsylvania is the first state in the United States 12 to institute domestic violence universal screening; and 13 WHEREAS, For the second year in a row the Family Violence 14 Prevention Fund (FVPF) has designated Pennsylvania as the only 15 state in the Nation worthy of an "A" grade as a result of the 16 Commonwealth's Domestic Violence Health Care Laws, including the 17 Domestic Violence Health Care Response Program; and 18 WHEREAS, Health care providers are extremely vital for
1 detection and prevention of injuries related to domestic 2 violence; and 3 WHEREAS, All Pennsylvanians, particularly health care 4 providers, should be made aware of the multitude of symptoms and 5 signs associated with domestic violence; and 6 WHEREAS, Approximately only 10% of primary care physicians 7 across the nation routinely screen patients for partner abuse 8 when not currently injured; and 9 WHEREAS, Battery is a leading cause of injury to women; and 10 WHEREAS, It is estimated that nearly 4 million women are 11 physically abused each year throughout the United States; and 12 WHEREAS, Approximately 1,800 murders nationally are 13 attributed to domestic violence each year; therefore be it 14 RESOLVED, That the Senate designate October 10, 2001, as 15 "Health Cares About Domestic Violence Day"; and be it further 16 RESOLVED, That the Senate encourage all Pennsylvanians to 17 learn more about the causes, signs, prevention and treatment of 18 domestic violence. I11L82JLW/20010S0103R1323 - 2 -