Resolution 120789

..Title Supporting House Resolution 840 which urges The Pennsylvania State University to use the endowment created pursuant to the consent decree with the National Collegiate Athletic Association to fund Pennsylvania's children's advocacy centers. ..Body WHEREAS, On September 24, 2012, State Representative Julie Harhart introduced House Resolution 840, with twenty-one co sponsors, which urges the Pennsylvania State University to use the $60 million endowment to assist in the creation and maintenance of children's advocacy centers within this Commonwealth; and WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania State University has established an endowment pursuant to a consent decree imposed by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA); and WHEREAS, The stated purpose of the endowment is to assist child victims of sexual abuse and to help prevent such abuse in the future; and WHEREAS, The state-of-the-art treatment for victims of child sexual abuse and their families is provided by children's advocacy centers; and WHEREAS, This Commonwealth has 67 counties but only 21 children's advocacy centers within this Commonwealth; and WHEREAS, Of the many counties in this Commonwealth which do not have a children's advocacy center, Centre County, the home of The Pennsylvania State University, is among them; and WHEREAS, There is currently no dedicated funding stream for children's advocacy centers, and funding is the primary roadblock for establishment of children's advocacy centers; and WHEREAS, The endowment established by The Pennsylvania State University is to be funded by contributions of $60 million; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby support House Resolution 840 which urges the Pennsylvania State University to use the $60 million endowment to assist in the creation and maintenance of children's advocacy centers within this Commonwealth. FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Chief Clerk shall forward a certified copy of this Resolution to the Majority Leader and Minority Leader of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, the Majority and Minority Chairs of the Pennsylvania Committee on Judiciary and to all members of the House delegation representing the City of Philadelphia as evidence of this Council's support of this legislation. ..End