BILL ANALYSIS �
SJR 6
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Date of Hearing: June 21, 2011
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON HEALTH
William W. Monning, Chair
SJR 6 (Kehoe) - As Amended: June 13, 2011
SENATE VOTE : 39-0
SUBJECT : Survivors of torture.
SUMMARY : Designates June 26, 2011, as a Day in Support of
Victims of Torture in California and calls on the federal Office
of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) to appropriately distribute
torture treatment funding through the federal Torture Victims
Relief Act (TVRA) of 1998. Specifically, this resolution :
1)Makes various findings and declarations relating to the
contributions that torture survivors have made to California's
communities, economy, and cultural vibrancy; and the programs,
services, and supports that are provided to torture survivors
in California.
2)Declares June 26, 2011, as a Day in Support of Victims of
Torture in California and urges ORR to direct adequate torture
treatment funding through the TVRA that reflects the state's
role as the largest resettlement destination in the nation for
torture survivors.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Authorizes, under the TVRA, the federal Secretary of Health
and Human Services to provide grants to U.S. programs to cover
the costs of services for the rehabilitation of victims of
torture, including treatment of the physical and psychological
effects of torture; social and legal services for victims of
torture; and, research and training for health care providers
outside of torture treatment centers.
2)Establishes ORR to administer competitive grant programs
funded by the TVRA, including the Services for Survivors of
Torture Program, which provides medical, psychological,
social, and legal assistance to torture survivors and
technical assistance to service providers.
3)Establishes the Refugee Programs Bureau within the California
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Department of Social Services to provide state-level
coordination of programs and services, such as cash assistance
and employment services, to specified categories of refugees.
These programs are funded 100% by ORR and operated at the
local level by county welfare and social services departments
and/or local faith and community-based organizations.
FISCAL EFFECT : None
COMMENTS :
1)PURPOSE OF THIS RESOLUTION . According to the author,
California is home to approximately 100,000 torture survivors.
The author asserts that, absent more equitable distribution
of funding from ORR, the state will be less prepared to assist
those torture survivors in need of specialized care to help
them overcome the lingering effects of torture, such as
chronic pain, disfigurement, insomnia, flashbacks, and
depression, that can otherwise undermine their ability to
thrive as productive members of their new California
communities. The author states that this resolution is
intended to ensure that ORR distributes adequate torture
treatment funds to states like California that serve
disproportionate populations of formerly tortured refugees.
2)ORR . ORR provides assistance to refugees and other eligible
persons through its various programs and grants to enable
these individuals to achieve self-sufficiency and integration
within the shortest time period after arriving in the U.S.
The Services for Survivors of Torture Program within ORR
recognizes that many individuals residing in the U.S.,
including refugees, asylees, immigrants, other displaced
persons, and U.S. citizens, have experienced torture by
foreign governments. This program provides direct services to
torture survivors and conducts training for health care,
psychological, social, and legal service providers to provide
appropriate services and care to torture survivors. In 2008,
the most recent year for which data is available, ORR awarded
nearly $10 million to public and private non-profit grantees
to fund 20 projects in 15 states, including California, that
focused on the provision of direct services to persons who
have been tortured or to their family members or other close
persons who have witnessed the torture. According to ORR,
nearly 5,000 torture survivors were served in 2008.
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3)SUPPORT . The sponsor, Survivors of Torture, International,
writes that this resolution is important in building awareness
of the specialized care that torture treatment and
rehabilitation programs provide to survivors who, in addition
to facing struggles similar to those that many immigrants
face, also battle with the effects of post-traumatic stress,
complex medical and psychological issues, and trepidation when
interfacing with government or institutional agencies,
especially if the perpetrator of their trauma was a government
official in their home country.
4)TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS .
a) On page 3, line 19, delete "reviewed by the MHSOAC". In
line 31, after "funding", insert "to".
b) On page 4, line 30, delete "Unites" and insert "United".
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
Survivors of Torture, International (sponsor)
Asian Americans for Community Involvement
California Church IMPACT
International Rescue Committee
Program for Torture Victims
World Relief, Inc.
Opposition
None on file.
Analysis Prepared by : Cassie Royce / HEALTH / (916) 319-2097