2023 -- H 5353

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LC001266

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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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 EXAMINE AND MAKE

RECOMMENDATIONS TO COMBAT THE RISING THREAT OF TARGETED VIOLENCE

AGAINST FAITH COMMUNITIES

     Introduced By: Representatives Fenton-Fung, Shallcross Smith, Biah, and Cotter

     Date Introduced: February 03, 2023

     Referred To: House Health & Human Services

     WHEREAS, Rhode Island was historically the first colony to be founded upon and

governed by the principles of religious liberty and freedom; and

     WHEREAS, In recent years, a troubling and divisive pattern of increased aggression and

violence against faith communities has substantially escalated; and

     WHEREAS, It is essential that police, businesses, individuals and law makers at all

levels, develop a framework to establish ways to educate, prevent, and ultimately alleviate this

violence against faith communities; now, therefore be it

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

consisting of fifteen (15) 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 the Chair of the Rhode Island Commission on

Prejudice and Bias, or designee; one of whom shall be the Colonel of the Rhode Island State

Police, or designee; one of whom shall be the President of the Rhode Island Police Chiefs'

Association, or designee; six (6) of whom shall be community faith leaders, one each representing

the Jewish, Roman Catholic, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, Sikh, and Protestant faith communities, to

be appointed by the Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be a member of the leadership of

the International Brotherhood of Police Officers (IBPO), to be appointed by the Speaker of the

House; one of whom shall be a member of the leadership of the Fraternal Order of Police, to be

appointed by the Speaker of the House; and one of whom shall be the Rhode Island Attorney

General, or designee.

     In lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to a legislative study

commission, 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 examine and provide recommendations to

combat the rising threat of targeted violence against faith communities including, but not limited

to:

     • Research and analyze statewide trends, relevant risk factors, and stressors related to

targeted violence and prevention against faith communities;

     • Examine methods and policies to establish or enhance state-wide capabilities to prevent

targeted violence against faith communities;

     • Develop a robust and sustainable local prevention framework against targeted violence

against faith communities;

     • Assess procedures to address online aspects of targeted violence against faith

communities; and

     • Examine, investigate and provide recommendations for potential methods to fund,

establish and enhance training, increase public and societal awareness, and develop partnerships

across every level of the government, the private sector, and in local communities to address

violence against faith communities.

     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,

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 February 7, 2024, and said commission shall expire on

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May 7, 2024.

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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 EXAMINE AND MAKE

RECOMMENDATIONS TO COMBAT THE RISING THREAT OF TARGETED VIOLENCE

AGAINST FAITH COMMUNITIES

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     This resolution would create a fifteen (15) member special legislative commission whose

purpose it would be to examine and make recommendations to combat the rising threat of

targeted violence against faith communities, and who would report back to the House of

Representatives no later than February 7, 2024, and whose life would expire on May 7, 2024.

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LC001266

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