2015 -- H 6090 SUBSTITUTE A

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE - DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PREVENTION ACT

     

     Introduced By: Representative Blake Anthony Filippi

     Date Introduced: April 16, 2015

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     (by request)

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 12-29-5 of the General Laws in Chapter 12-29 entitled "Domestic

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Violence Prevention Act" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     12-29-5. Disposition of domestic violence cases. -- (a) Every person convicted of or

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placed on probation for a crime involving domestic violence or whose case is filed pursuant to §

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12-10-12 where the defendant pleads nolo contendere, in addition to any other sentence imposed

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or counseling ordered, shall be ordered by the judge to attend, at his or her own expense, a

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batterer's intervention program appropriate to address his or her violent behavior; provided,

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however, that the court may permit a servicemember or veteran to complete any court-approved

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counseling program administered or approved by the Veterans' Administration. The court may

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permit a resident of the town of New Shoreham to complete a court-approved counseling program

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administered by a court-approved provider that provides services in the town of New Shoreham.

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Provided, the lack or absence of a court-approved program or provider being available in the

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town of New Shoreham shall not relieve or exempt a resident of the town of New Shoreham from

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a court order to attend a program pursuant to this section. This order shall be included in the

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conditions of probation. Failure of the defendant to comply with the order shall be a basis for

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violating probation and/or the provisions of § 12-10-12. This provision shall not be suspended or

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waived by the court.

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      (b) Every person convicted of or placed on probation for a crime involving domestic

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violence, as enumerated in § 12-29-2 or whose case if filed pursuant to § 12-10-12 where the

 

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defendant pleads guilty or nolo contendere, in addition to other court costs or assessments

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imposed, shall be ordered to pay a one hundred twenty-five dollar ($125) assessment. Eighty

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percent (80%) of the assessment collected pursuant to this section shall be provided to the Rhode

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Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence for programs to assist victims of domestic violence

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and twenty percent (20%) of the assessment shall be deposited as general revenue.

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      (c) (1) Every person convicted of an offense punishable as a misdemeanor involving

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domestic violence as defined in § 12-29-2 shall:

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      (i) For a second violation be imprisoned for a term of not less than ten (10) days and not

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more than one year.

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      (ii) For a third and subsequent violation be deemed guilty of a felony and be imprisoned

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for a term of not less than one year and not more than ten (10) years.

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      (2) No jail sentence provided for under this section can be suspended.

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      (3) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed as limiting the discretion of the judges

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to impose additional sanctions authorized in sentencing.

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      (d) For the purposes of this section, "batterers intervention program" means a program

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which is certified by the batterers intervention program standards oversight committee according

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to minimum standards, pursuant to §§ 12-29-5.1, 12-29-5.2, and 12-29-5.3.

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      (e) For purposes of this section, "servicemember" means a person who is presently

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serving in the armed forces of the United States including the Coast Guard, a reserve component

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thereof, or the National Guard. "Veteran" means a person who has served in the armed forces,

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including the Coast Guard of the United States, a reserve component thereof, or the National

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Guard, and has been discharged under other than dishonorable conditions.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE - DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PREVENTION ACT

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     This act would authorize the court to permit residents of Block Island to complete a

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court-approved counseling program in domestic violence cases with a provider on Block Island, if

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such a program is available on the island. The lack of such a program on the island would not

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relieve or exempt a resident from the court ordered counseling.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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