R 317

2016 -- S 2221 SUBSTITUTE A AS AMENDED Enacted 06/15/2016

S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO CONDUCT A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING GRANDPARENT RIGHTS

Introduced By: Senators DiPalma, Archambault, Lombardi, and McCaffrey

Date Introduced: January 27, 2016

WHEREAS, Grandparents can provide grandchildren with a connection to the past

through story-telling about the parent's and their own childhood, to the child's heritage and to

history through accounts of what life was like when they were growing up; and

WHEREAS, Grandparents can provide grandchildren with a connection to extended

family, such as cousins, and great aunts and uncles when appropriate; and

WHEREAS, The alienation of grandchildren from their grandparents affects all

populations regardless of socio-economic boundaries and can affect the mental, emotional and

physical health of grandchildren; and

WHEREAS, Grandparent visitation rights must be consistent with due process and the

constitutional rights of parents; now, therefore be it

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

consisting of 10 members: three (3) of whom shall be members of the Senate, not more than two

(2) from the same political party, to be appointed by the Senate President, one of whom shall be

the Chief Judge of the Family Court, or designee; one of whom shall be the Chief Strategy

Officer from the Department of Children, Youth and Families, (DCYF), or designee; one of

whom shall be the Executive Director of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), or

designee; a representative from RI Legal Services to be appointed by the president of the senate;

one of whom shall be a representative of Adoption Rhode Island, or a similar community-based

service provider; and three (3) of whom shall be members of the public, to be appointed by the

Senate President.

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 that appointment of the member of the general

public.

The purpose of the said commission shall be to conduct a comprehensive review and

make recommendations regarding grandparent rights.

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

the call of the President of the Senate, who shall appoint a chairperson.

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 recommendations to the

President of the Senate no later than March 1, 2017 and said commission shall expire on June 1,

2017.

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