A RESOLUTION

 Creating the Senate Study Committee on Georgia Health Disparities for Asian and Pacific  Islander Americans; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, health disparity for African Americans in Georgia has been well documented, but studies related to the health disparity among other minority groups in Georgia are  lacking; and

 WHEREAS, the Asian American and Pacific Islander American populations are among the fastest growing ethnic backgrounds in Georgia with a growth rate of 33 percent for Asian Americans and 44 percent for Pacific Islanders from 2000 to 2004; and

WHEREAS, Asian and Pacific Islander Americans are collectively the minority groups with the second highest decline in health conditions next to the Native American population; and

WHEREAS, significant scientific studies show that the clinical cut off markers for chronic diseases could be remarkably lower for Asian and Pacific Islander Americans in comparison to the general population; and

WHEREAS, peer-reviewed scientific literature also indicates that the incidence of type 2 diabetes is high for nonobese Asian and Pacific Islander Americans; and

WHEREAS, research on the total prevalence of diabetes and other chronic diseases is currently unavailable for the Asian and Pacific Islander population of the United States; and

WHEREAS, although studies comparing the occurrence of diabetes in the Caucasian population with that of the Asian and Pacific Islander populations have been performed in California and Hawaii, no such research exists on Georgia's population; and

WHEREAS, comprehensive study is needed in the area of the health issues in the Asian and Pacific Islander populations of Georgia in order to estimate health risks, ensure the proper provision of educational information to at risk communities, update the Georgia Health Disparity Report, and modify the standard of care provided to these Americans.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that there is created the Senate Study Committee on Georgia Racial Health Disparities for Asian and Pacific Islander Americans to be composed of five members to be appointed by the President of the Senate who shall designate one member as chairperson. The chairperson shall call all meetings of  the committee.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee shall undertake a study of the health risks, language barrier issues, and health funding disparities present in Asian and Pacific Islander American communities. Furthermore, the committee shall recommend any action or legislation which the committee deems necessary or appropriate. The committee may conduct such meetings at such places and at such times as it may deem necessary or convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform its duties, and  accomplish the objectives and purposes of this resolution. The members of the committee shall receive the allowances provided for in Code Section 28-1-8 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated. The allowances authorized by this resolution shall not be received by any member of the committee for more than five days unless additional days are authorized.

The funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution shall come from the funds appropriated to the Senate. In the event the committee makes a report of its findings and recommendations, with suggestions for proposed legislation, if any, such report shall be made on or before December 31, 2009. The committee shall stand abolished on December 31, 2009.