R 328
2018 -- S 2984
Enacted 06/20/2018

S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N
CREATING A SPECIAL TASK FORCE TO INVESTIGATE AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ANY CHANGES TO THE LAW, COURT RULES OR TO POLICIES AND PROCEDURES CURRENTLY IN PLACE TO ENHANCE THE TIMELY AND COMPLETE DISCLOSURE OF DISCOVERABLE MATERIAL IN CRIMINAL CASES

Introduced By: Senator Stephen R. Archambault
Date Introduced: June 20, 2018

     RESOLVED, That a special task force be and the same is hereby created consisting of
twelve (12) members: one of whom shall be the President of the Rhode Island Bar Association, or
designee; one of whom shall be the President of the Rhode Island Association of Criminal
Defense Lawyers, or designee; one of whom shall be the Dean of the Roger Williams University
School of Law, or designee; one of whom shall be the Executive Director of the Rhode Island
Commission for Human Rights, or designee; one of whom shall be the Superintendent of the
Rhode Island State Police, or designee; one of whom shall be the Public Safety Commissioner for
the City of Providence, or designee; one of whom shall be the Rhode Island Attorney General, or
designee, who shall serve as Co-Chairperson of the Task Force; one of whom shall be the Rhode
Island Public Defender, or designee, who shall serve as Co-Chairperson of the Task Force; one of
whom shall be the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, or designee; one of whom shall be the
president of the Rhode Island Police Chiefs' Association, or designee; and two (2) of whom shall
be law enforcement representatives, one of whom shall be a Chief of Police from a department
with more than forty-five (45) sworn officers, and one of whom shall be a Police Chief from a
department with fewer than forty-five (45) sworn officers, to be appointed by the task force.
     The purpose of said task force shall be to study and make recommendations, in
consultation with judges, practitioners, and appropriate experts in the field, any changes it deems
necessary to the law, court rules, or to policies and procedures currently in place, to enhance the
timely and complete disclosure of discoverable material in criminal cases. The task force may
also consider and make recommendations that include, but are not limited to, additional in-house
or outside training for attorneys and law enforcement personnel, promulgation of protocols to
enhance interagency cooperation, standardization of procedures, the sharing of information via
the internet or other secure electronic means and the potential use of sanctions to ensure
compliance.
     Upon passage of this resolution, the members of the task force shall meet and organize at
the call of the Co-Chairpersons, no later than January 31, 2019.
     Vacancies in said task force shall be filled in like manner as the original appointment.
     The membership of said task force shall receive no compensation for their services.
     The Joint Committee on Legislative Services is hereby authorized and directed to provide
suitable quarters for said task force; and be it further
     RESOLVED, That the task force shall report its findings and recommendations to the
President of the Senate, the Governor, the Chief Justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court, the
Presiding Justice of the Superior Court, the Chief Judge of the District Court, and the Chief Judge
of the Family Court, no later than January 1, 2020. The task force shall meet periodically
thereafter, at the call of the Co-Chairpersons, in order to assess the impact of its
recommendations, and said task force shall expire on January 1, 2022.
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