Chapter 275

2005 -- S 0724 SUBSTITUTE A

Enacted 07/13/05

 

A N A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- CITIZENS' COMMISSION FOR THE SAFETY AND CARE OF THE ELDERLY

 

     Introduced By: Senator Leo R. Blais

     Date Introduced: February 17, 2005

 

 

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

 

     SECTION 1. Sections 12-1.4-3, 12-1.4-4, 12-1.4-7 and 12-1.4-9 of the General Laws in

Chapter 12-1.4 entitled "Citizens' Commission for the Safety and Care of the Elderly" are hereby

amended to read as follows:

 

     12-1.4-3. Purpose. -- The purpose of the commission shall be to act as a liaison between

the legislature, public safety officials, the department of elderly affairs, and the older population

of Rhode Island in the area of crime against the elderly., fire safety, and protective service options

available to the elderly.

 

     12-1.4-4. Membership. [Effective January 7, 2003] -- (a) The commission shall consist

of nineteen (19) twenty-one (21) members, eight (8) of whom shall be older citizens appointed by

the speaker and seven (7) of whom shall be older citizens appointed by the president of the

senate. The speaker shall appoint three (3) members and the president of the senate shall appoint

two (2) members for terms of three (3) years; the speaker shall appoint three (3) members and the

president of the senate shall appoint two (2) members for terms of two (2) years; and the speaker

shall appoint two (2) members and the president of the senate shall appoint three (3) members for

a term of one year. These terms shall commence with the date of appointment and expire on the

January 31 after the appointment corresponding with the number of years of the term to which

appointed. Appointments shall be made for terms of three (3) years commencing on February 1 in

the year of appointment and ending on January 31 in the third year after the appointment. Any

vacancy among the members shall be filled by the appointing authority for the remainder of the

unexpired term.

      (b) The remaining four (4) six (6) members of the commission shall be the president of

the Police Chiefs' Association or his or her designee; the attorney general or his or her designee;

the director of elderly affairs or his or her designee, and a representative of the state police

appointed by the superintendent of the state police, the president of the fire chief's association, or his

or her designee and the state fire marshal or his or her designee; all four (4) six (6) of whom shall

be appointed for a term of three (3) years.

      (c) 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 themselves.

 

     12-1.4-7. Cooperation of departments. – (a) All departments and agencies of the state

shall furnish any advice and information, documentary and otherwise, to the commission and its

agents deemed necessary or desirable by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this chapter.

     (b) Each local police and fire chief shall designate at least one police officer or fire

fighter to serve as the department's "senior citizen police advocate" to work as a liaison between

the department and the elderly community to help address elderly safety and protection issues.

 

     12-1.4-9. Reports to general assembly. -- The commission shall report its findings and

recommendations regarding the improvement of elder safety issues to the general assembly on or

before January 25 of each year.

 

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.     

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LC01577/SUB A

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