HR1353: HR1353 Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence; recognize

26 LC 129 1069 House Resolution 1353 By: Representatives Santos of the 117th, New of the 40th, Camp of the 135th, Gunter of the 8th, Crawford of the 89th, and others A RESOLUTION Recognizing the Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence; and for other purposes.1 WHEREAS, the Georgia Coalition Aga inst Domestic Violence (GCADV ) began as the2 Georgia Network Against Domestic Violence in 1980 under the leadership of Jean Marcinko3 with five charter members, including the Columbus Alliance for Battered Women, the4 Council on Battered Women in Atlanta, the Council on Battered W omen in Athens, the5 S.A.F.E. Shelter in Savannah, and the YWCA Crisis Center in Cobb County; and6 WHEREAS, the coalition provides information and support to members and local groups,7 promotes services and prevention to families in domestic violence situations, promotes public8 awareness and education of the problem of domestic violence and possible prevention9 strategies, and functions as a unified body and a resource to the State regarding legislation,10 reforms, funding and prevalence of domestic violence; and11 WHEREAS, for the past 25 years, thousands of advocates have con vened at the Georgia12 State Capitol to be a voice for change and improve the lives of survivors of domestic and13 sexual violence in the state of Georgia as a part of GCADV's ef forts to end domestic14 violence; and15 H. R. 1353 - 1 - 26 LC 129 1069 WHEREAS, GCADV stands with survivors by partnering with the Georgia Commission on16 Family Violence and the Georgia Network to End Sexual Assault a nd other advocacy17 organizations for Stop Violence Against Women Day at the Georgia Capitol; and18 WHEREAS, with the help of its partners and allies, GCADV has worked to pass meaningful19 legislation that ensures the rights of survivors are protected and upheld, including the passage20 of the Survivor Justice Act, adding pets to protective order petitions, establishing an address21 confidentiality program, creating a pathway for justice for vic tims of dating violence,22 allowing victims of domestic violence and stalking to break their lease without penalty and23 establishing domestic violence as a "good cause" for receiving unemployment benefits for24 those who have to leave their jobs, and allowing survivors to include child support as relief25 in temporary protective orders.26 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that27 the members of this body recognize and commend the Georgia Coalition Against Domestic28 Violence.29 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized30 and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to the31 Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence.32 H. R. 1353 - 2 -