2019 -- S 0366

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LC001568

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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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 STUDY THE IMPACT OF THE

TRAUMA INFLICTED ON CHILDREN WHO ARE EXPOSED TO VIOLENCE

     Introduced By: Senators Bell, Satchell, Euer, Goldin, and Murray

     Date Introduced: February 13, 2019

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     WHEREAS, An estimated 10 million U.S. children are exposed to domestic violence

each year; and

     WHEREAS, Rates of partner violence are higher among couples with children than those

without children; and

     WHEREAS, In Rhode Island in 2015 (the most recent year for which full data are

available), police reports indicate that children were present at 28% of domestic violence

incidents resulting in arrests. However, that number is but a small percentage of the number of

children affected by violence due to myriad additional situations of children's connection with

violence that goes unidentified, undocumented, and untreated; and

     WHEREAS, The impact of violence on children who see or hear non-domestic acts of

violence, or who have lost family members or friends through non-domestic acts of violence, or

whose friends have lost family members through acts of violence, often live day-to-day in fear of

ongoing violence in their communities; and

     WHEREAS, The effect and consequences of this violence on our children's lives both

emotionally and educationally must be recorded and evaluated, and methods of healing these

often unseen wounds must be comprehensive and collectively available in our schools and our

communities; now, therefore be it

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

consisting of thirteen (13) members; three (3) of whom shall be members of the Rhode Island

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

the Senate; one of whom shall be the Executive Director of RI Kids Count, or designee; one of

whom shall be the Director of the Rhode Island Department of Corrections, or designee; one of

whom shall be the Director of the Rhode Island Department of Human Services, or designee; one

of whom shall be the Executive Director of the Providence Student Union, or designee; one of

whom shall be the President of the Rhode Island Association of School Principals, or designee;

one of whom shall be the Executive Director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Ocean State, or

designee; one of whom shall be the Executive Director of Rhode Islanders Sponsoring Education,

or designee; one of whom shall be the Regional Director of D.A.R.E., or designee; one of whom

shall be the President of the Ministers Alliance of Rhode Island, or designee; and one of whom

shall be the Executive Director of the Institute for the Study and Practice of Non-Violence, or

designee.

     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 consents to the member of the general public.

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

recommendations on the impact of the trauma inflicted on children who are exposed to violence

including:

     (1) Methodology to identify and quantify children exposed to all types of violence;

     (2) Methods to measure the scope of problem, including geographic and monetary

influences;

     (3) Resultant behaviors, academic setbacks, and long-term outcome from children's

exposure to violence; and

     (4) Policy and program options to improve the negative effects of violence on children.

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

the call of the President of the Senate 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,

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.

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     The Joint Committee on Legislative Services 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

Senate no later than February 7, 2020, and said commission shall expire on May 7, 2020.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY THE IMPACT OF THE

TRAUMA INFLICTED ON CHILDREN WHO ARE EXPOSED TO VIOLENCE

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     This resolution would create a thirteen (13) member special legislative study commission

whose purpose it would be to study the impact of the trauma inflicted on children who are

exposed to violence, and who would report back to the Senate no later than February 7, 2020, and

whose life would expire on May 7, 2020.

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