SR 342: Senate Study Committee on Certified Peer Specialists, Addiction Recovery Programs, and Protocols; create

Senate Resolution 342

By: Senator Strickland of the 42nd

A RESOLUTION

Creating the Senate Study Committee on Certified Peer Specialists, Addiction Recovery Programs, and Protocols; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, substance use disorders and mental illnesses affect millions of individuals of all ages, races, and ethnic backgrounds as well as their families, friends, coworkers, and communities; and

WHEREAS, an estimated 46 million Americans experienced a substance use disorder in 2022, and more than one million Georgians are in active addiction to alcohol and illegal and prescription drugs; and

WHEREAS, on average, over 200 people die each day from overdose or fentanyl poisoning, and over a quarter of a million Americans have died from a fentanyl overdose since 2018; and

WHEREAS, substance use disorders impact not only the individual affected but also marriages, families, the economy, and the healthcare system; and

WHEREAS, studies show a close relationship with an addicted person can become a source of chaos, emotional upheaval, financial instability, and even violence, and children of parents with a substance use disorder are at an increased risk of neglect or abuse, social isolation, disrupted education, and developing a substance use disorder themselves; and

WHEREAS, employees who engage in heavy alcohol or illicit drug use are 33 percent less productive than their coworkers, and addictions cost business owners over $750 billion each year in lost revenue, profits, productivity, and healthcare costs; and

WHEREAS, statistics for Georgia show increasing numbers of drug overdose deaths, and there is no significant difference between rates for drug overdose deaths in urban and rural counties; and

WHEREAS, as a result of the addiction epidemic, every community in Georgia is experiencing rising costs, academic challenges, threats to law enforcement officers and first responders, impacts on marriages, and challenges for business owners and the workforce; and

WHEREAS, everyone deserves a chance at recovery from addiction including, but not limited to, those in state, county, or city custody with the Department of Corrections or the Department of Community Supervision, whether incarcerated, paroled, or on probation; and

WHEREAS, Georgia is a national leader in developing Certified Peer Specialists who are in a position to provide returning citizens support during and upon completion of imprisonment and on reentering the community; and

WHEREAS, Georgia should promote programs and protocols for healthcare providers, law enforcement and first responders, education leaders, faith leaders, business leaders, and local governments to better address the addiction epidemic; and

WHEREAS, it would be beneficial for policymakers to study ways to embrace clinical and peer led programs and protocols to enhance awareness of state Certified Peer Specialists to serve those impacted by addiction through educational programs for healthcare providers, law enforcement and first responders, education leaders, faith leaders, business leaders, and local governments to better address the addiction epidemic to enhance collaboration and integration.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE:

(1) Creation of Senate study committee. There is created the Senate Study Committee on Certified Peer Specialists, Addiction Recovery Programs, and Protocols.

(2) Members and officers. The committee shall be composed of six members of the Senate to be appointed by the President of the Senate. The President shall designate a member of the committee as chairperson of the committee.

(3) Powers and duties. The committee shall undertake a study of the conditions, needs, issues, and problems mentioned above or related thereto and recommend any action or legislation which the committee deems necessary or appropriate.

(4) Meetings. The chairperson shall call all meetings of the committee. 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.

(5) Allowances and funding.

(A) The legislative members of the committee shall receive the allowances provided for in Code Section 28-1-8 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated.

(B) The allowances authorized by this resolution shall not be received by any member of the committee for more than five days unless additional days are authorized. Funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution shall come from funds appropriated to the Senate.

(6) Report.

(A) In the event the committee adopts any specific findings or recommendations that include suggestions for proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file a report of the same prior to the date of abolishment specified in this resolution, subject to subparagraph (C) of this paragraph.

(B) In the event the committee adopts a report that does not include suggestions for proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file the report, subject to subparagraph (C) of this paragraph.

(C) No report shall be filed unless the same has been approved prior to the date of abolishment specified in this resolution by majority vote of a quorum of the committee. A report so approved shall be signed by the chairperson of the committee and filed with the Secretary of the Senate.

(D) In the absence of an approved report, the chairperson may file with the Secretary of the Senate a copy of the minutes of the meetings of the committee in lieu thereof.

(7) Abolishment. The committee shall stand abolished on December 1, 2025.