2020 -- S 2481

========

LC004617

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2020

____________

S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY OPTIMIZING HEALTH

AND SAFETY LAWS AFFECTING MARGINALIZED INDIVIDUALS

     Introduced By: Senators Euer, and Valverde

     Date Introduced: February 13, 2020

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     WHEREAS, There has been significant research on the safety and health impact of laws

specifically related to violence, exploitation, stigma, human trafficking, and sexual health, but

more needs to be done analyzing the data; and

     WHEREAS, These laws disproportionately impact women, transgender individuals, and

people of color; and

     WHEREAS, Rhode Island-based advocates in conjunction with university-based

academics have found a documented increase in exploitation and violence against people in the

sex industry in Rhode Island since the passage of federal legislation FOSTA/SESTA; and

     WHEREAS, A newly published meta-analysis of 134 studies across many nations

published over a 28 year period showed increased violence and incidence of sexually transmitted

infections (STIs) in jurisdictions with repressive police practices; and

     WHEREAS, A 2017 Rhode Island study conducted by Baylor University's Scott

Cunningham and Manisha Shah of the University of California Los Angeles, published in the

Review of Economic Studies found that during 2003 through 2009, while indoor prostitution was

still decriminalized in Rhode Island, the number of rapes diminished by 31 percent and the

statewide incidence of gonorrhea among women diminished by 39 percent; and

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

consisting of thirteen (13) members: two (2) of whom shall be members of the Senate, to be

appointed by the Senate President; one of whom shall be a from COYOTE-RI, to be selected by

the Chairperson; one of whom shall be from Amnesty International, to be selected by the

Chairperson; two (2) of whom shall be representatives of organizations serving populations

disproportionately impacted by the criminalization of commercial sex, with priority given to

organizations focused on improving public health, supporting survivors of violence and sexual

assault, and civil rights organizations, to be selected by the Chairperson; one of whom shall be the

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

Defender, or designee; one of whom shall be the Rhode Island Attorney General, or designee; one

of whom shall be the Director of the Brown University Center for the Study of Slavery & Justice,

or designee; two (2) of whom shall be individuals that have engaged in commercial sex, to be

appointed by the Chairperson; and one of whom shall be the President of the Rhode Island Police

Chief's Association, 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 appointment of the member of the general public.

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

recommendations on the health and safety impact of revising laws related to commercial sexual

activity, and identifying the methods of human trafficking and exploitation to develop strategies

to reduce these activities.

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

the call of the Senate President 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.

     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 results to the

Senate on or before February 1, 2021, and said commission shall expire on May 1, 2021.

========

LC004617

========

LC004617 - Page 2 of 3

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 OPTIMIZING HEALTH

AND SAFETY LAWS AFFECTING MARGINALIZED INDIVIDUALS

***

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

whose purpose it would be to study the health and safety impact of optimizing health and safety

laws affecting marginalized individuals, and who would report back to the Senate on or before

February 1, 2021, and said commission would expire on May 1, 2021.

========

LC004617

========

LC004617 - Page 3 of 3