Although Senate Joint Resolution No. 89 was not agreed to by the House Courts of Justice Committee of the 1977 Session of the General Assembly, the House Committee on Health, Welfare and Institutions agreed that enough concern had been generated about the issue to conduct a study of the physical abuse of spouses. Consequently, the Committee appointed the Subcommittee to Study Battered Spouses chaired by Delegate John D. Gray of Hampton. Selected to serve as members of the Subcommittee with Delegate Gray were Delegates Charles W. Gunn, Jr. of Lexington; Robert R. Gwathmey, III of Mechanicsville; Evelyn M. Hailey of Norfolk; Johnny S. Joannou of Portsmouth; Joan S. Jones of Lynchburg; Mary A. Marshall of Arlington, Warren G. Stambaugh of Arlington and W. Ward Teel of Christiansburg.

During September and October of 1977, the Subcommittee held a series of public hearings throughout the State to obtain information on potential legislation to assist the victims of spouse abuse.