HARRISBURG (June 1, 2006) � The Pennsylvania Bar Association Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee will honor Pennsylvania State Sen. Stewart Greenleaf with its Special Recognition Award for his commitment to promoting alternative dispute resolution (ADR) practices in Pennsylvania. The award will be presented during the association�s annual meeting June 8 in Hershey.

�We are thrilled to be able to present this special recognition award to Senator Greenleaf,� PBA ADR Committee Co-Chair Ann Begler of Pittsburgh said. �For more than two decades, he has been a leader and champion in the effort to bring mediation and ADR to the citizens of Pennsylvania. We continue to be inspired by and are grateful for his dedication and perseverance in this effort.�

Sen. Greenleaf was the prime sponsor of legislation (SB 432, Act 20 of 1996) authorizing the use of mediation in divorce and child custody cases and allowing the court to impose a $20 fee on divorce complaints to help pay for mediation programs. He also sponsored legislation (SB 619, Act 3 of 1996) that provides a legal privilege for confidential mediation communications and documents.

For several legislative sessions, Sen. Greenleaf introduced legislation that would have established the Commission on Dispute Resolution and Conflict Management. The purpose of the statewide commission was to develop, coordinate and support dispute resolution and conflict management education, training and research programs throughout Pennsylvania. Because of fiscal concerns, the commission was not created. As such, Sen. Greenleaf has been working to find alternative approaches.

Most recently, Sen. Greenleaf sponsored Senate Resolution 160, which created a blue-ribbon panel to review the current status of ADR services in Pennsylvania; identify relevant best practices in the delivery of ADR services; develop a plan to educate citizens about conflict resolution in general and ADR services in particular; and propose legislation to advance the use of innovative conflict resolution methods statewide.

Sen. Greenleaf is the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee and is a member of the Senate committees on Appropriations, Banking and Insurance, Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure, and Environmental Resources and Energy. He represents the 12th Senatorial District, which includes portions of Montgomery and Bucks counties. Sen. Greenleaf is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Toledo Law School.