Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 14–Senators Porter, Amodei, Care, Carlton, Coffin, Jacobsen, James, Mathews, McGinness, Neal, O’Connell, O’Donnell, Raggio, Rawson, Rhoads, Schneider, Shaffer, Titus, Townsend, Washington and Wiener

 

February 28, 2001

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Joint Sponsors: Assemblymen  Brown, Anderson, Angle, Arberry, Bache, Beers, Berman, Brower, Buckley, Carpenter, Cegavske, Chowning, Claborn, Collins, de Braga, Dini, Freeman, Gibbons, Giunchigliani, Goldwater, Gustavson, Hettrick, Humke, Koivisto, Lee, Leslie, Manendo, Marvel, McClain, Mortenson, Neighbors, Nolan, Oceguera, Ohrenschall, Parks, Parnell, Perkins, Price, Smith, Tiffany, Von Tobel and Williams

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Read and Adopted

 

SUMMARY—Commends Michele and John Laws for their work as advocates for abused and neglected children. (BDR R‑1050)

 

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EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted.

Green numbers along left margin indicate location on the printed bill (e.g., 5-15 indicates page 5, line 15).

 

Senate Concurrent RESOLUTION—Commending Michele and John Laws for their work as advocates for abused and neglected children.

 

1-1    Whereas, The tragedy of child abuse and neglect is a worldwide

1-2  problem of monumental proportions, with statistics showing that there are

1-3  nearly 1 million reported incidents every year in our country alone; and

1-4    Whereas, Because an abused or neglected child was too often a voice

1-5  unheard and a face unseen in our over-burdened court system, Congress

1-6  passed the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act in 1974, mandating

1-7  the appointment of a guardian ad litem to serve as an advocate for victims

1-8  in cases of child abuse and neglect; and

1-9    Whereas, In his search for such advocates to assist him in making

1-10  more informed decisions, Judge David W. Soukup of Seattle, Washington,

1-11  started a program in 1977 to recruit volunteers from the community to

1-12  serve in the role of advocate; and


2-1    Whereas, Judge Soukup’s program developed into a nationwide

2-2  association known as the National Court Appointed Special Advocate

2-3  Association, commonly called CASA; and

2-4    Whereas, Michele and John Laws, a husband-and-wife team, are two

2-5  loving, caring people who have dedicated themselves to rescuing abused

2-6  and neglected children in Clark County through their support of the CASA

2-7  program and the nurturing of foster children; and

2-8    Whereas, Michele, who became a CASA volunteer more than 10 years

2-9  ago, after qualifying through background checks and participation in the 40

2-10  hours of required training, soon had both herself and her willing

2-11  accomplice John enrolled in the classes requisite for becoming foster

2-12  parents; and

2-13    Whereas, In her role as a CASA volunteer, Michele is assigned to one

2-14  or two cases involving child abuse or neglect at a time and commits herself

2-15  to serve a minimum of 2 years on each case; and

2-16    Whereas, As the advocate for a child, Michele’s responsibilities

2-17  include conducting thorough research on the case, spending time with the

2-18  child regularly, writing assessments, and appearing in court to speak on

2-19  behalf of the child and his best interests; and

2-20    Whereas, Although Michele and John graciously give of their time,

2-21  their lifework can extract an emotional toll that is overwhelming when they

2-22  are involved with children who have broken bones or retarded development

2-23  and with children who horde food fearing that it might be taken from them

2-24  or who sleep under their beds to feel safe; and

2-25    Whereas, The strain is intensified by knowing that “wonderful,

2-26  flowery endings aren’t going to happen,” and Michele says that fact is

2-27  probably the hardest thing she and John have to deal with; and

2-28    Whereas, Michele’s CASA Volunteer Coordinator, Betsey Sheldon,

2-29  describes Michele as a person of vision and empathy who is “the most

2-30  committed foster parent I know” and who “does not believe children are

2-31  disposable, and does not throw them away”; and

2-32    Whereas, Betsey emphasizes that John is also an excellent foster

2-33  parent and provides support for his family with good judgment and

2-34  integrity as a “a full partner in this venture”; and

2-35    Whereas, Michele and John Laws were awarded the 1997 Judges

2-36  Award for Foster Parents of the Year in Clark County because they have

2-37  devoted themselves to cherishing children and sustaining those who,

2-38  through no fault of their own, must overcome the scars of abuse and

2-39  neglect; and

2-40    Whereas, Our society as a whole, and we as individuals, owe a debt of

2-41  gratitude that can never be fully paid to Michele and John for the unselfish

2-42  pledge they have made to keep children safe and to support them with the

2-43  love and protection they need for the hope of a better tomorrow; and

2-44    Whereas, The dedication of this team is an inspiration to every child

2-45  who comes into contact with them because their actions send the message

2-46  “We will always be there for you”; now, therefore, be it

2-47    Resolved by the Senate of the State of Nevada, the Assembly

2-48  Concurring, That the members of the 71st session of the Nevada

2-49  Legislature commend Michele and John Laws for their loving care and


3-1  heartfelt commitment to children who need someone to be there for them;

3-2  and be it further

3-3    Resolved, That this Legislature recognizes the hope for a brighter

3-4  tomorrow that is embodied in this couple; and be it further

3-5    Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate prepare and transmit a copy

3-6  of this resolution to Michele and John Laws.

 

3-7  H