TITLE: Requesting the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the House of Representatives to provide for a joint interim study regarding domestic violence.

SUMMARY: Requesting the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the House of Representatives to provide for a joint interim study regarding domestic violence.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, Nearly 200,000 domestic violence incidents were reported to the Texas Department of Public Safety in 2015 alone; and WHEREAS, The Texas Council on Family Violence has estimated that one in three Texans will be a victim over the course of their lifetime; such violence affects people of all ages and backgrounds, but over 70 percent of victims are women; in Texas, 158 women were killed by an intimate partner in 2015, and of those, 108 were mothers, who left 281 children behind; and WHEREAS, Physical injuries are not the only effects of family violence; many victims suffer from anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem, and they may lean on drugs or alcohol in an attempt to cope; victims may also suffer economically, missing work or losing jobs because of violence or the threat of violence; and WHEREAS, Children who are victims or witnesses of domestic violence suffer in many ways, and they may experience a range of responses, from anger or fear to an inability to sleep; some are plagued by long-term emotional effects that can lead to substance abuse, unhealthy adult relationships, reduced social and academic skills, and increased risk of suicide; and WHEREAS, The societal ills caused by domestic violence are manifold, and reducing its occurrence is a matter of vital concern to the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the 87th Legislature of the State of Texas hereby request the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the House of Representatives to provide for a joint interim study regarding domestic violence; and, be it further RESOLVED, That a full report, including findings and recommendations, be submitted to the 88th Texas Legislature before it convenes in January 2023.