2013 -- S 0723

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LC01795

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2013

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A N A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT - CHILDREN AND YOUTH

COLLABORATIVE

     Introduced By: Senators Pichardo, Cool Rumsey, Goodwin, Lynch, and Jabour

     Date Introduced: March 13, 2013

     Referred To: Senate Education

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Title 42 of the General Laws entitled "STATE AFFAIRS AND

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GOVERNMENT" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

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     CHAPTER 155

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CHILDREN AND YOUTH COLLABORATIVE

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     42-155-1. Establishment. – (a) There is established a children and youth collaborative.

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The collaborative shall be comprised of the following membership:

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     (1) The director of the department of children, youth, and families, or his or her designee;

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     (2) The director of the department of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities

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and hospitals, or his or her designee;

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     (3) The director of the department of health, or his or her designee;

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     (4) The commissioner of higher education, or his or her designee;

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     (5) The commissioner of elementary and secondary education, or his or her designee;

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     (6) The director of the department of human services, or his or her designee;

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     (7) The chief information officer of the division of information technology, or his or her

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designee;

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     (8) The director of the department of labor and training, or his or her designee;

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     (9) The director of policy in the governor's office;

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     (10) The chief library officer of the office of library and information services, or his or

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her designee;

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     (11) A representative of the Rhode Island state police who has expertise in youth/gang

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violence, to be designated by the colonel of the state police;

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     (12) The chief judge of the Rhode Island family court, or his or her designee;

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     (13) Representatives from the Rhode Island department of elementary and secondary

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education who specialize in early learning, career and technology programs, secondary education

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and virtual learning to be appointed by the commissioner of elementary and secondary education.

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One representative may specialize in more than one area, but there shall not be less than two (2)

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representatives;

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     (14) A representative from the office of higher education that has expertise in the area of

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academic and student affairs to be appointed by the commissioner of higher education;

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     (15) The executive director of Kids count, or his or her designee;

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     (16) A representative of each of the Boys and Girls clubs in Rhode Island designated by

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the president of the local board;

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     (17) The chairperson of the YWCA Rhode Island, or his or her designee;

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     (18) A representatives of each of the YMCAs in Rhode Island, designated by chair of the

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local board;

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     (19) The president of the College crusade of Rhode Island, or his or her designee;

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     (20) The executive director of Ocean state libraries, or his or her designee;

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     (21) The president and chief executive officer of the Rhode Island foundation, or his or

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her designee;

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     (22) The president and chief executive officer of the United Way of Rhode Island, or his

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or her designee;

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     (23) The executive director of the Rhode Island foster parents association, or his or her

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designee;

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     (24) The chairperson of the Rhode Island parent information network, or his or her

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designee;

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     (25) The president of the board of managers of the Rhode Island Parent and Teacher

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Association, or his or her designee;

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     (26) A co-chair of the board of directors of Young voices, or his or her designee;

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     (27) The executive minister of the Rhode Island state council of churches, or his or her

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designee;

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     (28) A representative of the children and youth cabinet of Providence designated by the

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chairs of the children and youth cabinet of Providence;

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     (29) The president of the Rhode Island association of school committees, or his or her

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designee;

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     (30) The president of the Rhode Island school superintendents’ association, or his or her

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designee;

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     (31) The president of the executive board of the Rhode Island school principals’

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association, or his or her designee;

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     (32) The president of the Rhode Island police chiefs’ association, or his or her designee;

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     (33) The president of the national education association Rhode Island, or his or her

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designee;

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     (34) The president of the Rhode Island federation of teachers and health professionals, or

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his or her designee;

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     (35) The president of the Rhode Island recreation and parks association, or his or her

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designee; and

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     (36) A representative of the Rhode Island national guard who specializes in education to

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be appointed by the Rhode Island adjutant general.

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      (b) The children and youth collaborative shall meet and organize initially at the call of

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the chief judge of the family court and thereafter at the call of the chair. Upon organization, the

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members of the collaborative shall elect from the majority of the members present a chairperson

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and vice-chairperson and any other officers it chooses. Vacancies in the collaborative shall be

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filled in like manner of the original appointment.

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     (c) The Rhode Island department of elementary and secondary education and/or the office

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of higher education shall provide suitable quarters for meeting purposes.

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     (d) All departments and agencies of the state, shall furnish such advice and information,

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documentary and otherwise, to said collaborative and its agents as is deemed necessary or

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desirable by the collaborative to facilitate the purposes of this chapter.

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     42-155-2. Purpose and objectives. – (a) The purpose of the children and youth

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collaborative, hereinafter CYCRI is to bring together stakeholders who have responsibilities in

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policy areas concerning the children of Rhode Island from birth to college and career, from

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preschools to family court, from parental engagement groups to youth advocates and from state

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agencies to parks and recreation facilities.

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     (b) The objectives of the CYCRI shall include, but are not limited to, the following, to

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identify and examine the issues that can affect the children and youth of Rhode Island, which may

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include access to healthcare, access to mental health resources, reading at grade level initiatives,

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math and science initiatives, improve school attendance rates at all grade levels; increase

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graduation rates of our secondary education institutions, increase percentage of students going to

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college or certificate bearing programs, access to extracurricular activities including sports, music

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and the arts, programs to prevent bullying and youth violence, community engagement, parental

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engagement, identifying standardized test supports and computer or other technology learning

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opportunities for teachers, parents and students and others.

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     42-155-3. Open meetings. – All meetings of the children and youth collaborative and its

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subcommittees, if any, shall comply with the open meetings laws pursuant chapter 46 of title 42.

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     42-155-4. Reporting. – The CYCRI shall report to the governor, the president of the

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senate and the speaker of the house annually on December 31. The report shall include, but not

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be limited to, the following:

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     (1) An updated organization chart, that identifies the adopted structure of the

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collaborative, including subcommittees, chairs and leaders, if any;

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     (2) The areas/issues that the collaborative will focus on as well as the methods of

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addressing said areas/issues and the definition of the goals;

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     (3) The status and achievements of the CYCRI, including the number of meetings held,

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the successes of the group including the definition of the success if it is not apparent and the

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rationale on why it should be defined as a success, if necessary;

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     (4) Identify the areas where public – private partnerships can assist in reaching the goals;

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     (5) Areas where legislation may be needed to accomplish goals; and

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     (6) Any other area that the CYCRI deems appropriate or other areas requested by the

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governor, senate or house.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC01795

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT - CHILDREN AND YOUTH

COLLABORATIVE

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     This act would establish a children and youth collaborative made up of specific

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representatives associated with children in this state. They would be obligated to report annually

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to the governor, president of the senate, and the speaker of the house with their goals, issues,

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status, and achievements.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC01795

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