2016 -- S 2900

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LC003611

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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: Senator Maryellen Goodwin

     Date Introduced: April 07, 2016

     Referred To: Senate 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. Chapter 15-2 of the General Laws entitled "Marriage Licenses" is hereby

amended by adding thereto the following section:

     15-2-9.2. Additional fee for domestic violence prevention fund. – (a) For each

marriage license issued by any town or city clerk, there shall be an additional fee of forty-six

dollars ($46.00), of which they shall retain two dollars ($2.00) for administrative costs. The

balance of forty-four dollars ($44.00) shall be transmitted to the general treasurer of the state of

Rhode Island who shall deposit said funds to the credit and for the use of the domestic violence

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prevention fund as created by §12-29-12.

     (b) Each town and city clerk shall maintain and account for all fees charged and received

under this section and shall be responsible for transmitting all sums due to the general treasurer

on a monthly basis and in a manner and on forms prescribed and adopted by the general treasurer.

Each town or city clerk shall submit annual reports to the house and senate finance committees

detailing the collection and disbursement of funds collected on or before February 28 of each

year.

     (c) The general treasurer shall transmit the funds received from the town and city clerks

to the Rhode Island coalition against domestic violence on a monthly basis. The coalition shall

then use the funds in accordance with the provisions of §12-29-12.

     SECTION 3. 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 be financed

by an additional fee on marriage licenses and 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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