2019 -- H 5354

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY THE HEALTH AND

SAFETY IMPACT OF REVISING COMMERCIAL SEXUAL ACTIVITY LAWS

     Introduced By: Representatives Williams, Ajello, Vella-Wilkinson, Almeida, and Walsh

     Date Introduced: February 08, 2019

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     WHEREAS, There has been significant research on the safety and health impact of laws

governing commercial sex, specifically related to violence, exploitation, stigma, and sexual

health, but more needs to be done analyzing the data; and

     WHEREAS, Criminalization of prostitution disproportionately impacts women,

transgender individuals, and people of color; and

     WHEREAS, There has been a documented increase in exploitation and violence against

people in the sex industry in Rhode Island since the passage of federal legislation

FOSTA/SESTA; and

     WHEREAS, A newly published meta-analysis of 134 studies across many nations

published over a 28 year period showed increased violence and incidence of STIs in jurisdictions

with repressive police practices; and

     WHEREAS, A study conducted by Baylor University's Scott Cunningham and Manisha

Shah of the University of California Los Angeles found that during 2003 through 2009, while

indoor prostitution was still decriminalized in Rhode Island, the number of rapes diminished by

31 percent and the statewide incidence of gonorrhea among women diminished by 39 percent;

and

     WHEREAS, In New Zealand, where prostitution was decriminalized nationwide in 2003,

a comprehensive study by researchers from the University of Otago's School of Medicine found

that more that 60 percent of the 772 sex workers who participated reported feeling more able to

refuse to see certain clients, and 95 percent said they felt they had rights after decriminalization.

Human trafficking has also diminished in New Zealand since decriminalization; now, therefore

be it

     RESOLVED, That a special legislative commission be and the same is hereby created

consisting of twelve (12) members: two (2) of whom shall be members of the House, to be

appointed by the Speaker of the House; four (4) of whom shall be representatives of organizations

serving populations disproportionately impacted by the criminalization of commercial sex, with

priority given to organizations focused on improving public health, supporting survivors of

violence and sexual assault, and civil rights organizations, including at least one from COYOTE-

RI, and three (3) from organizations selected by the Chairperson, and all of whom shall be

appointed by the Chairperson; one of whom shall be the Director of the Department of Health, or

designee; one of whom shall be an attorney from the Rhode Island Public Defender's Office, to be

appointed by the Speaker; one of whom shall be the Rhode Island Attorney General, or designee;

two (2) of whom shall be individuals that have engaged in commercial sex, to be appointed by the

Speaker of the House; and one of whom shall be the President of the Rhode Island Police Chief's

Association, or designee.

     In lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to a permanent advisory

commission, a legislative study commission, or any commission created by a General Assembly

resolution, the appointing authority may appoint a member of the general public to serve in lieu

of a legislator, provided that the majority leader or the minority leader of the political party which

is entitled to the appointment consents to the appointment of the member of the general public.

     The purpose of said commission shall be to make a comprehensive study and provide

recommendations on the health and safety impact of revising laws related to commercial sexual

activity.

     Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall meet at

the call of the Speaker of the House and organize and shall select a chairperson from among the

legislators.

     Vacancies in said commission shall be filled in like manner as the original appointment.

     The membership of said commission shall receive no compensation for their services.

     All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such advice and information,

documentary and otherwise, to said commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or

desirable by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this resolution.

     The Speaker of the House is hereby authorized and directed to provide suitable quarters

for said commission; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That the commission shall report its findings and results to the House of

Representatives on or before February 7, 2020, and said commission shall expire on May 7, 2020.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY THE HEALTH AND

SAFETY IMPACT OF REVISING COMMERCIAL SEXUAL ACTIVITY LAWS

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     This resolution would create a twelve (12) member special legislative commission whose

purpose it would be to study the health and safety impact of revising commercial sexual activity

laws, and who would report back to the House of Representatives on or before February 7, 2020,

and said commission would expire on May 7, 2020.

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