2016 -- H 7683 SUBSTITUTE A

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2016

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PREVENTION ACT

     Introduced By: Representatives Blazejewski, Regunberg, Bennett, and Almeida

     Date Introduced: February 24, 2016

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Chapter 12-29 of the General Laws entitled "Domestic Violence Prevention

Act" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

     12-29-12. Domestic violence prevention fund - policy. – (a) The general assembly finds

and declares that domestic violence is a serious public health concern in the state of Rhode Island,

and that evidence-based domestic violence prevention programs are important tools in decreasing

the continuing toll that domestic violence takes on Rhode Island communities, cities and towns. It

is therefore in the best interest of the state to establish a fund to promote effective programs

working toward the primary prevention of domestic violence in Rhode Island.

     (b) Domestic violence prevention fund:

     (1) There is created the domestic violence prevention fund program, to be administered

by the Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

     (2) The domestic violence prevention fund program monies shall be used to fund

evidence-based programs with the purpose of primary prevention of domestic violence and dating

violence in the state of Rhode Island.

     (3) The Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence shall convene a statewide

prevention fund advisory committee comprised of those with knowledge, experience, training

and/or expertise in the field of prevention of domestic violence and dating violence. The

committee members shall include, but are not limited to, the executive director of the Rhode

Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence or their designee; the director of the department of

health or their designee; the director of the department of human services or their designee; the

attorney general or their designee; and representative organizations providing domestic violence

and dating violence primary prevention services in Rhode Island.

     (c) The committee shall be responsible for implementation of programs to prevent

domestic and dating abuse and shall:

     (1) Develop a plan and budget for distribution of funds;

     (2) Develop criteria for awarding and distributing funds received to develop plans and

programs for the prevention of domestic and dating violence;

     (3) Issue requests for proposals to providers, organizations, firms, or entities that will

provide services to the committee;

     (4) Review proposals for the funds and present recommendations to the board of directors

of the Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence;

     (5) Monitor and account for the expenditure of funds and produce an annual report on the

activities of the domestic violence prevention fund. Annual reports shall be submitted to the

senate and house finance committees of the general assembly for review on or before February 28

of each year; and

     (6) Promote the general development of domestic violence primary prevention programs

and activities.

     (d) Organizations submitting proposals for funds shall not participate in the review of

proposals or expenditure of funds. The Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence shall

not be eligible to submit proposals for the committee's programs nor shall it be eligible to receive

any funds from the committee except as hereinafter provided.

     (e) The Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence may utilize up to ten percent

(10%) of the sums collected for the domestic violence prevention fund for the purpose of

administering the program and it shall also be required to submit an annual report detailing the

expenditure of funds to the senate and house finance committees on or before February 28 of each

year.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on September 1, 2016.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PREVENTION ACT

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     This act would establish a domestic violence prevention fund which would have as its

primary purpose the prevention of domestic and dating violence.

     This act would take effect on September 1, 2016.

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