2017 -- H 5716

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LC001323

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

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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 AND ASSESS

EDUCATION MODULES FOR DIVORCING PARENTS

     Introduced By: Representatives Regunberg, Walsh, Barros, Donovan, and Casimiro

     Date Introduced: March 01, 2017

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     (by request)

     WHEREAS, Research conclusively shows that the failure of divorced parents to co-

parent, cooperate, and communicate constructively for the benefit of their minor children has

harmful effects on both the parents and their children; and

     WHEREAS, These harmful effects can include anxiety, depression, social withdrawal,

impaired school attendance and academic performance, reduced work productivity, substance

abuse, and self-harm, all of which impact public health and draw on social services and medical

services; and

     WHEREAS, Effective co-parenting, communication, and collaboration between divorced

parents has been shown to reduce the risk of above-stated harmful effects; and

     WHEREAS, The State of Rhode Island currently does not have a robust marketplace, in

either the public or private sector, of educational offerings for divorcing or divorced parents to

learn co-parenting, communication, and collaboration skills and practices; now, therefore be it

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

consisting of nine (9) members: three (3) of whom shall be members of the Rhode Island House

of Representatives, not more than two (2) from the same political party, to be appointed by the

Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be a social worker experienced in dealing with families

of divorce, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be a professional

writer/editor; to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be a licensed

marriage/family therapist, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be a

licensed adult psychologist or psychiatrist, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; one of

whom shall be a licensed adolescent psychologist or psychiatrist, to be appointed by the Speaker

of the House; and one of whom shall be a family law attorney, to be appointed by the Speaker of

the House.

     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 and consents to the member of the general public.

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

education modules for divorcing parents that shall include:

     Researching educational modules on parenting through and after divorce, offered both

regionally (i.e., New England) and nationally including, any academic or peer-reviewed studies

regarding the efficacy of educational modules on parenting through and after divorce;

     Evaluating a variety of educational modules based on style, curriculum, pedagogical

approach, length of class, duration of overall programming, and format (including but not limited

to: online modules; prerecorded video modules; and in-person classes, seminars, and/or

workshops);

     Conclusions on what educational modules are or would be most effective in promoting

effective co-parenting or parallel parenting, collaboration, and communication between divorcing

parents including, judgments of module efficacy for divorcing couples exhibiting low, medium,

and high levels of conflict;

     Recommendations on any available supplemental programming or educational modules

for the entire family: i.e., the minor children of the divorcing parents as well as the parents

themselves;

     Making recommendations on how a robust marketplace of the best and most efficacious

educational modules for divorcing parents could be developed in the state of Rhode Island; and

     Any other relevant information or recommendations pertaining to this topic.

     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,

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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

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

House of Representatives no later than January 27, 2018, and said commission shall expire on

March 27, 2018.

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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 AND ASSESS

EDUCATION MODULES FOR DIVORCING PARENTS

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     This resolution would create a nine (9) member special legislative study commission

whose purpose it would be to make a comprehensive study and assessment of the most effective

education modules for divorcing parents and how they may be implemented in the State of Rhode

Island, and who would report back to the House of Representatives no later than January 27,

2018, and whose life would expire on March 27, 2018.

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