H.J.R. 16

1

JOINT RESOLUTION SUPPORTING
2 GOVERNOR'S CHILD AND FAMILY CABINET
3 COUNCIL
4 2007 GENERAL SESSION
5 STATE OF UTAH
6 Chief Sponsor: Paul Ray
7 Senate Sponsor: Dan R. Eastman
8
9 LONG TITLE
10 General Description:
11 This joint resolution of the Legislature supports the formation of the Utah Governor's
12 Child and Family Cabinet Council.
13 Highlighted Provisions:
14 This resolution:
15 . supports the formation of the Utah Governor's Child and Family Cabinet Council to
16 focus on the issues of domestic violence and its threat to Utah's children and
17 families.
18 Special Clauses:
19 None
20
21 Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
22 WHEREAS, the children of Utah are our future, and investing in their general welfare,
23 safety, and livelihood is of utmost priority;
24 WHEREAS, the children of Utah are our future workforce in whom we will rely on to
25 keep Utah competitive in the global economy;
26 WHEREAS, the protecting of children and the strengthening of families should be a
27 concern and responsibility of all Utahns;

28 WHEREAS, statistics show the threat to Utah's children and families, which crosses
29 over several program lines and consumes considerable resources to combat, is very real;
30 WHEREAS, the Division of Child and Family Resources receives 41.8 abuse
31 allegations per 1,000 Utah children;
32 WHEREAS, domestic violence-related child abuse continues to be the most prevalent
33 form of child abuse in Utah;
34 WHEREAS, the incidence of sexual abuse of children is the second most common form
35 of abuse;
36 WHEREAS, substance abuse by the caregiver is a contributing factor to the placement
37 of 60 % of the children in the custody of the Division of Child and Family Services;
38 WHEREAS, domestic violence is defined as a pattern of coercive tactics that can
39 include physical, psychological, sexual, and emotional abuse perpetrated by one person against
40 a cohabitant with the goal of control and power over the victim;
41 WHEREAS, sexual violence is defined as one person forcing another person to have
42 sex or perform sexual acts through coercion, manipulation, threats, physical restraint, or
43 physical violence;
44 WHEREAS, existing programs that maintain child safety and well being are dependent
45 on broad community support; and
46 WHEREAS, a proactive and coordinated approach to preventing abuse, neglect, and
47 violence against children and families is needed:
48 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah
49 supports the formation, by Governor Huntsman, of a council known as the Utah Governor's
50 Child and Family Cabinet Council to focus on the issues of domestic violence and its threat to
51 Utah's children and families.
52 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to Governor
53 Huntsman and the Division of Child and Family Services.




Legislative Review Note
as of 2-12-07 11:51 AM

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel