The 1972 Session of the V1rginia General Assembly had before it for its consideration Senate Bill No. 574. The general intent of this Bill was to remove public intoxication from the criminal justice system and to assure that alcoholic persons receive more effective help. Senate Bill No. 574, in the judgment of the General Assembly, represented an enlightened and realistic proposal for establishing local treatment facilities for the treatment of alcoholics in a local environment. Financing the program contemplated by Senate Bill No. 574 would have been accomplished by a tax on the sale of alcoholic beverages. Because of the complexities presented by the Bill itself and the necessity of increasing alcoholic beverage taxes required to fund and implement a community based system of health care facilities for alcoholics, the 1972 Session carried the Bill over to the 1973 Session for consideration. The Senate Committee on Rehabilitation· and 3ocial Services felt that it lacked the staff and resources adequate to resolve the issues raised by the Bill and, in 1973, reported a resolution calling for a study of the Senate Bill No. 574 approach by the Virginia Advisory Legislative Council.

Accordingly, the Virginia Advisory Legislative Council Committee to Study Treatment of Alcoholism was established as a result of Senate Joint Resolution No. 132, which was adopted by the 1973 Session of the Virginia General Assembly.

Senator Joseph V. Gartlan, Jr. of Fairfax, a member of the Council, was appointed Chairman of the Committee to conduct the study. Other members selected to serve on the committee were Senator Leroy S. Bendheim of Alexandria, Dr. Joseph T. Byrne of Richmond, Dr. Thomas R. Dundon of Richmond, Judge Beverly Fitzpatrick of Roanoke, The Reverend Arthur Graham of Richmond, Mr. Harold 0. Hinson of Fairfax, Mr. Leslie F. Johnson, Jr. of Richmond, Delegate Dorothy McDiarmid of Falls Church, Mr. Carlyle Ring of Alexandria and Mr. David M. Rothwell of Charlottesville. Senator Leroy S. Bendheim was elected Vice Chairman.

The Virginia Advisory Legislative Council and the Division of Legislative Services made staff and facilities available to carry out this study; they assigned the necessary employees to assist the individual members in the study group at all times. The Division of Legislative Services was represented by Mr. Robert W. Bendall and Mrs. Mark H. Neale.

Mr. Barry Lipman and Mr. John Garka of the State Department of Taxation assisted the Committee in the area of financial analysis.