2015 -- S 0583 SUBSTITUTE A AS AMENDED

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO DELINQUENT AND DEPENDENT CHILDREN-PROCEEDINGS IN

FAMILY COURT

     

     Introduced By: Senators McCaffrey, and Lynch

     Date Introduced: March 03, 2015

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 14-1-11 of the General Laws in Chapter 14-1 entitled "Proceedings

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in Family Court" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     14-1-11. Authorizing and filing petition. -- (a) The filing of the petition constitutes

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assumption of jurisdiction over the child. Filing shall take place upon authorization by the intake

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department upon completion of its procedures pursuant to Rule 3 of the Rules of Juvenile

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Proceedings, upon authorization by a justice of the family court pursuant to Rule 4 of the Rules of

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Juvenile Proceedings, or immediately upon appearance of the child before the court following

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emergency detention, unless the court otherwise orders.

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      (b) In the event that a petition is filed, any appropriate person having knowledge,

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information, or belief of the material facts that appear to warrant a petition may be a petitioner

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under this chapter and is not required to give recognizance or surety for costs. The petition shall

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be directed to the family court of the state of Rhode Island, setting forth that in the opinion of the

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petitioner the child is a delinquent, wayward, dependent, or neglected child, or otherwise comes

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within the provisions of this chapter, and requires the care and protection of the state, and all

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petitions, with the exception of those requesting the arrest and/or detention of any person, shall be

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sworn to before a licensed notary public. Those exceptions, as stated above, shall be sworn to by

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either a justice or clerk of the family court.

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      (c) No child shall be ordered detained at the training school unless there is pending

 

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against the child a petition setting forth facts which would constitute a felony or misdemeanor if

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committed by an adult or which alleges a violation of a valid court order, or unless the child is

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adjudged in contempt of court. Provided, the family court shall not detain a juvenile at the

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training school for the violation of a valid court order, until a hearing is conducted and it is

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determined that the child intentionally violated the order, and the violation involves the failure of

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the child to engage in services or activities intended to protect or promote the child's health or

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safety, or the health or safety of any other person or persons.

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     In the event a child is ordered to be detained at the training school, the family court shall

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conduct a probable cause hearing within five (5) calendar days of the child's detention (exclusive

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of weekends and/or holidays). At the conclusion of the probable cause hearing, the court shall

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order the release of the child from the training school unless the court finds that the child poses a

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substantial risk of harm to self or to others.

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      Nothing in this section prohibits the temporary commitment by the family court to the

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department of children, youth, and families for placement of a child in a specific facility or

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program other than the training school for youth.

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      (d) The department of children, youth and families, in consultation with law enforcement

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agencies, the attorney general, the office of the public defender and the family court, shall

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develop and implement a detention risk assessment instrument by no later than July 1, 2009.

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      (e) No child shall be placed in detention at the training school unless a determination is

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made by the family court that the child poses a substantial risk of harm to self or to others.

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      (f) No petition alleging that a child is wayward by virtue of disobedient behavior may be

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filed except upon proof offered in the petition that the child has been subjected to a needs

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assessment conducted at a facility approved by the director of the department of children, youth

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and families, and that a treatment plan resulting from that assessment has been unsuccessful.

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      (g) The director of the department of children, youth and families is authorized and

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directed to promulgate any rules and regulations that it deems necessary to implement the

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provisions and purposes of this section.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on September 30, 2015.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO DELINQUENT AND DEPENDENT CHILDREN-PROCEEDINGS IN

FAMILY COURT

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     This act would prohibit the family court from detaining a juvenile at the training school

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for the violation of a valid court order, until a hearing is conducted and it is determined that the

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child intentionally violated the order, and the violation involves the failure of the child to engage

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in services or activities intended to protect or promote the child's health or safety, or the health or

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safety of any other person or persons.

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     This act would take effect on September 30, 2015.

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