2016 -- S 2221 SUBSTITUTE A AS AMENDED

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2016

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO CONDUCT A

COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING

GRANDPARENT RIGHTS

     

     Introduced By: Senators DiPalma, Archambault, Lombardi, and McCaffrey

     Date Introduced: January 27, 2016

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

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     WHEREAS, Grandparents can provide grandchildren with a connection to the past

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through story-telling about the parent's and their own childhood, to the child's heritage and to

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history through accounts of what life was like when they were growing up; and

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     WHEREAS, Grandparents can provide grandchildren with a connection to extended

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family, such as cousins, and great aunts and uncles when appropriate; and

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     WHEREAS, The alienation of grandchildren from their grandparents affects all

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populations regardless of socio-economic boundaries and can affect the mental, emotional and

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physical health of grandchildren; and

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     WHEREAS, Grandparent visitation rights must be consistent with due process and the

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constitutional rights of parents; now, therefore be it

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

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consisting of 10 members: three (3) of whom shall be members of the Senate, not more than two

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(2) from the same political party, to be appointed by the Senate President, one of whom shall be

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the Chief Judge of the Family Court, or designee; one of whom shall be the Chief Strategy

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Officer from the Department of Children, Youth and Families, (DCYF), or designee; one of

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whom shall be the Executive Director of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), or

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designee; a representative from RI Legal Services to be appointed by the president of the senate;

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one of whom shall be a representative of Adoption Rhode Island, or a similar community-based

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service provider; and three (3) of whom shall be members of the public, to be appointed by the

 

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Senate President.

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

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

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

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of a legislator, provided that the Majority Leader or the Minority Leader of the political party

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which is entitled to the appointment consents to that appointment of the member of the general

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public.

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     The purpose of the said commission shall be to conduct a comprehensive review and

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make recommendations regarding grandparent rights.

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

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the call of the President of the Senate, who shall appoint a chairperson.

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

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

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

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

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

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     The Joint Committee on Legislative Services is hereby authorized and directed to provide

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suitable quarters for said commission; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That the commission shall report its findings and recommendations to the

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President of the Senate no later than March 1, 2017 and said commission shall expire on June 1,

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2017.

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