SR342: SR342 Senate Study Committee on Certified Peer Specialists, Addiction Recovery Programs, and Protocols; create

25 LC 52 0806 Senate Resolution 342 By: Senator Strickland of the 42nd A RESOLUTION Creating the Senate Study Committee on Certified Peer Specialis ts, Addiction Recovery1 Programs, and Protocols; and for other purposes.2 WHEREAS, substance use disorders and mental illnesses affect mi llions of individuals of3 all ages, races, and ethnic backgrounds as well as their famili es, friends, coworkers, and4 communities; and5 WHEREAS, an estimated 46 million Americans experienced a substa nce use disorder in6 2022, and more than one million Georgians are in active addiction to alcohol and illegal and7 prescription drugs; and8 WHEREAS, on average, over 200 people die each day from overdose or fentanyl poisoning,9 and over a quarter of a million Americans have died from a fentanyl overdose since 2018;10 and11 WHEREAS, substance use disorders impact not only the individual affected but also12 marriages, families, the economy, and the healthcare system; and13 S. R. 342 - 1 - 25 LC 52 0806 WHEREAS, studies show a close relationship with an addicted person can become a source14 of chaos, emotional upheaval, financial instability, and even violence, and children of parents15 with a substance use disorder are at an increased risk of negle ct or abuse, social isolation,16 disrupted education, and developing a substance use disorder themselves; and17 WHEREAS, employees who engage in heavy alcohol or illicit drug use are 33 percent less18 productive than their coworkers, and addictions cost business owners over $750 billion each19 year in lost revenue, profits, productivity, and healthcare costs; and20 WHEREAS, statistics for Georgia show increasing numbers of drug overdose deaths, and21 there is no significant difference between rates for drug overdose deaths in urban and rural22 counties; and23 WHEREAS, as a result of the addiction epidemic, every community in Georgia is24 experiencing rising costs, academic challenges, threats to law enforcement officers and first25 responders, impacts on marriages, and challenges for business owners and the workforce; and26 WHEREAS, everyone deserves a chance at recovery from addiction including, but not27 limited to, those in state, county, or city custody with the Department of Corrections or the28 Department of Community Supervision, whether incarcerated, paroled, or on probation; and 29 WHEREAS, Georgia is a national leader in developing Certified Peer Specialists who are in30 a position to provide returning citizens support during and upon completion of imprisonment31 and on reentering the community; and 32 S. R. 342 - 2 - 25 LC 52 0806 WHEREAS, Georgia should promote programs and protocols for healthcare providers, law33 enforcement and first responders, education leaders, faith leaders, business leaders, and local34 governments to better address the addiction epidemic; and35 36 WHEREAS, it would be beneficial for policymakers to study ways to embrace clinical and37 peer led programs and protocols to enhance awareness of state Certified Peer Specialists to38 serve those impacted by addiction through educational programs for healthcare providers,39 law enforcement and first responders, education leaders, faith leaders, business leaders, and40 local governments to better address the addiction epidemic to e nhance collaboration and41 integration.42 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE:43 (1) Creation of Senate study committee. There is created the Senate Study Committee44 on Certified Peer Specialists, Addiction Recovery Programs, and Protocols.45 (2) Members and officers. The committee shall be composed of six members of the46 Senate to be appointed by the President of the Senate. The Pre sident shall designate a47 member of the committee as chairperson of the committee.48 (3) Powers and duties. The committee shall undertake a study of the conditions, needs,49 issues, and problems mentioned above or related thereto and recommend any action or50 legislation which the committee deems necessary or appropriate.51 (4) Meetings. The chairperson shall call all meetings of the committee. The committee52 may conduct such meetings at such places and at such times as it may deem necessary or53 convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform its duties, and54 accomplish the objectives and purposes of this resolution.55 (5) Allowances and funding.56 (A) The legislative members of the committee shall receive the allowances provided57 for in Code Section 28-1-8 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated.58 S. R. 342 - 3 - 25 LC 52 0806 (B) The allowances authorized by this resolution shall not be received by any member59 of the committee for more than five days unless additional days are authorized. Funds60 necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution shall come from funds61 appropriated to the Senate.62 (6) Report.63 (A) In the event the committee adopts any specific findings or recommendations that64 include suggestions for proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file a report of the65 same prior to the date of abolishment specified in this resolut ion, subject to66 subparagraph (C) of this paragraph.67 (B) In the event the committee adopts a report that does not i nclude suggestions for68 proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file the report, subject to subparagraph (C)69 of this paragraph.70 (C) No report shall be filed unless the same has been approved prior to the date of71 abolishment specified in this resolution by majority vote of a quorum of the committee. 72 A report so approved shall be signed by the chairperson of the committee and filed with73 the Secretary of the Senate.74 (D) In the absence of an approved report, the chairperson may file with the Secretary75 of the Senate a copy of the minutes of the meetings of the committee in lieu thereof.76 (7) Abolishment. The committee shall stand abolished on December 1, 2025.77 S. R. 342 - 4 -