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

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

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each year; and

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

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without children; and

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

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

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

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

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violence that goes unidentified, undocumented, and untreated; and

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

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

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

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ongoing violence in their communities; and

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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designee.

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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 which

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is entitled to the appointment consents to the member of the general public.

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

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

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including:

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

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

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influences;

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

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exposure to violence; and

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

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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 and organize and shall select a chairperson from among the

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legislators.

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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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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

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

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

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whose life would expire on May 7, 2020.

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