Rep. Hager offered the following concurrent resolution:

            House Concurrent Resolution No. 64.

            A concurrent resolution to urge the Family Independence Agency to work closely with the United States Department of Justice to implement recommendations made concerning the operations of the W. J. Maxey Training School.

            Whereas, Pursuant to federal law, the Civil Rights Division of the United States Department of Justice conducted a thorough investigation of the conditions at W. J. Maxey Training School at Whitmore Lake.  This study, which included on-site inspections, discussions, and document review, identified significant deficiencies at the facility and called for new measures to bring the Maxey Training School into compliance with federal standards in all areas; and

            Whereas, The Justice Department review of conditions at the Maxey Training School uncovered practices that are very troubling.  The study found many conditions that must be remedied.  Several of the deficiencies put the youthful residents at significant risk.  Instead of treatment designed to help residents turn their lives around, certain conditions and practices have been creating a counterproductive atmosphere; and

            Whereas, Justice Department investigators found "quite disturbing" uses of restraints, troubling reports of peer restraint practices, excessive use of isolation, inadequate due process in disciplinary cases, inadequate staffing levels, insufficient education programs for residents with disabilities, insufficient fire safety protection, and discrimination against individuals with physical or mental impairments.  Conditions for young people in need of special education services and those needing mental health services were found to be especially poor; and

            Whereas, While there are clearly difficult challenges in the mission of the Maxey Training School, we must do all we can as a state to ensure that treatment is just and consistent.  In addition to the moral and legal obligations involved in this work, ensuring that justice is applied within the facility is in the best interests of the entire state in the long run; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That we urge the Family Independence Agency to work closely with the United States Department of Justice to implement recommendations made concerning the operations of the W. J. Maxey Training School; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Office of the Governor, the Family Independence Agency, and the W. J. Maxey Training School.