2018 -- S 2948

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LC005630

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2018

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE - DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PREVENTION ACT

     

     Introduced By: Senators Nesselbush, Goodwin, Cano, Quezada, and Calkin

     Date Introduced: May 31, 2018

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 12-29-12 of the General Laws in Chapter 12-29 entitled "Domestic

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Violence Prevention Act" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     12-29-12. Domestic violence prevention fund -- policy. Deborah DeBare domestic

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violence prevention fund -- policy.

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     (a) The general assembly finds and declares that domestic violence is a serious public

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health concern in the state of Rhode Island, and that evidence-based domestic violence prevention

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programs are important tools in decreasing the continuing toll that domestic violence takes on

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Rhode Island communities, cities, and towns. It is therefore in the best interest of the state to

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establish a fund to promote effective programs working toward the primary prevention of

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domestic violence in Rhode Island.

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     (b) Deborah DeBare Domestic domestic violence prevention fund:

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     (1) There is created the Deborah DeBare domestic violence prevention fund program, to

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be administered by the Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

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     (2) The Deborah DeBare domestic violence prevention fund program monies shall be

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used to fund evidence-based programs with the purpose of primary prevention of domestic

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violence and dating violence in the state of Rhode Island.

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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and dating violence primary prevention services in Rhode Island.

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

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domestic and dating abuse and shall:

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

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

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programs for the prevention of domestic and dating violence;

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

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provide services to the committee;

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

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of the Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence;

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

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activities of the Deborah DeBare domestic violence prevention fund. Annual reports shall be

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submitted to the senate and house finance committees of the general assembly for review on or

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before February 28 of each year; and

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

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and activities.

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

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

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

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any funds from the committee except as hereinafter provided.

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

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

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

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detailing the expenditure of funds to the senate and house finance committees on or before

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February 28 of each year.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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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, in honor of Deborah DeBare, rename the domestic violence prevention

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fund as the Deborah DeBare domestic violence prevention fund.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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