07-R372
2007 -- S 0523
Enacted 06/23/07
J O I N T R E S O L U T I O N
CREATING A SPECIAL
LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO UNDERTAKE A
COMPREHENSIVE STUDY
OF SEX OFFENDER LEGISLATION IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
Introduced By: Senators
Doyle, Tassoni, and Ruggerio
Date Introduced: February
15, 2007
RESOLVED,
That a special legislative commission be and the same is hereby created
consisting
of fourteen (14) members; four (4) of whom shall be from the House of
Representatives,
not more than three (3) from the same political party, to be appointed by the
Speaker
of the House; four (4) of whom shall be members of the Senate, not more than
three (3)
from
the same political party, to be appointed by the President of the Senate; one
of whom shall
be
the Superintendent of the State Police, or designee; one of whom shall be the
Executive
Director
of Justice Assistance, or designee; one of whom shall be the Director of the
Department
of
Corrections, or designee; one of whom shall be the chairperson of the Parole
Board, or
designee;
one of whom shall be the Attorney General, or designee; and one of whom shall
be the
Presiding
Justice of the Superior Court, 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 consent to the member of the general public.
The
purpose of said commission shall be to study all aspects and implications
related to
the
enactment of sex offender legislation and to make recommendations to the
General Assembly.
This
study commission shall specifically consider, but is not limited to, the
consideration of the
following:
Inquiring into whether or not legislation should establish restrictive zones
within the
state
that certain sex offenders are prohibited from entering; considering the
specific location of
such
zones; considering who monitors any tracking system of sex offenders;
considering the cost
of
such a tracking system including the costs of necessary hardware, software,
training, and
manpower
needs; considering what should occur, including consequences, if a prohibited
zone is
violated
by a sex offender; considering whether entering a restricted zone is a new
crime or a
violation
of the terms of any bail, parole, or probation; considering what activity will
be deemed
sufficient
probable cause with regard to any offenses or violations considered;
considering and
determining
whether there will be consequences for the failure of an offender to recharge
or
maintain
the tracking unit; and any other aspect or implication related to the
foregoing. The study
commission
is also authorized to study and recommend amendments, new enactments, or
deletions
to any previously enacted laws relating to sex offenders.
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 shall designate one House member as a co-chair and the
President
of the Senate shall designate one Senate member as a co-chair.
The
Joint Committee on Legislative Services is hereby authorized and directed to
provide
suitable
quarters for said commission.
The
commission shall meet at the call of the co-chairs; and be it further
RESOLVED,
That the commission shall report its findings and recommendations to the
General
Assembly no later than April 26, 2008, and said commission shall expire on
August 30,
2008.
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LC02201
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