2018 -- H 7613

========

LC003184

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2018

____________

H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY THE IMPACT OF THE

TRAUMA INFLICTED ON CHILDREN WHO ARE EXPOSED TO VIOLENCE

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Ranglin-Vassell, Ajello, Nardolillo, Shekarchi, and
Donovan

     Date Introduced: February 14, 2018

     Referred To: House Health, Education & Welfare

1

     WHEREAS, Rhode Island currently documents minor children's exposure to violence in

2

cases of domestic violence resulting in arrest; and

3

     WHEREAS, In 2013, children were present in 40 percent of the more than 5,000 reported

4

cases of domestic violence; however, that number is but a small percentage of the number of

5

children affected by violence due to myriad additional situations of children's connection with

6

violence that goes unidentified, undocumented, and untreated; and

7

     WHEREAS, The impact of violence on children who see or hear non-domestic acts of

8

violence, or who have lost family members or friends through non-domestic acts of violence, or

9

whose friends have lost family members through acts of violence, often live day-to-day in fear of

10

ongoing violence in their communities; and

11

     WHEREAS, The effect and consequences of this violence on our children's lives both

12

emotionally and educationally must be recorded and evaluated, and methods of healing these

13

often unseen wounds must be comprehensive and collectively available in our schools and our

14

communities; now, therefore be it

15

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

16

consisting of thirteen (13) members; three (3) of whom shall be members of the Rhode Island

17

House of Representatives, not more than two (2) from the same political party, to be appointed by

18

the Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be the Executive Director of RI Kids Count, or

19

designee; one of whom shall be the Director of the Rhode Island Department of Corrections, or

 

1

designee; one of whom shall be the Director of the Rhode Island Department of Human Services,

2

or designee; one of whom shall be the Executive Director of the Providence Student Union, or

3

designee; one of whom shall be the President of the Rhode Island Association of School

4

Principals, or designee; one of whom shall be the Executive Director of Big Brothers Big Sisters

5

of the Ocean State, or designee; one of whom shall be the Executive Director of Rhode Islanders

6

Sponsoring Education, or designee; one of whom shall be the Regional Director of D.A.R.E., or

7

designee; one of whom shall be the President of the Ministers Alliance of Rhode Island, or

8

designee; and one of whom shall be the Executive Director of the Institute for the Study and

9

Practice of Non-Violence, or designee.

10

     In lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to a permanent advisory

11

commission, a legislative study commission, or any commission created by a General Assembly

12

resolution, the appointing authority may appoint a member of the general public to serve in lieu

13

of a legislator, provided that the majority leader or the minority leader of the political party which

14

is entitled to the appointment consents to the member of the general public.

15

     The purpose of said commission shall be to make a comprehensive study and provide

16

recommendations on the impact of the trauma inflicted on children who are exposed to violence

17

including:

18

     (1) Methodology to identify and quantify children exposed to all types of violence;

19

     (2) Methods to measure the scope of problem, including geographic and monetary

20

influences;

21

     (3) Resultant behaviors, academic setbacks, and long-term outcome from children's

22

exposure to violence; and

23

     (4) Policy and program options to improve the negative effects of violence on children.

24

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

25

the call of the Speaker of the House and organize and shall select a chairperson from among the

26

legislators.

27

     Vacancies in said commission shall be filled in like manner as the original appointment.

28

     The membership of said commission shall receive no compensation for their services.

29

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

30

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

31

desirable by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this resolution.

32

     The Speaker of the House is hereby authorized and directed to provide suitable quarters

33

for said commission; and be it further

34

     RESOLVED, That the commission shall report its findings and recommendations to the

 

LC003184 - Page 2 of 4

1

House of Representatives no later than February 7, 2019, and said commission shall expire on

2

May 7, 2019.

========

LC003184

========

 

LC003184 - Page 3 of 4

EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY THE IMPACT OF THE

TRAUMA INFLICTED ON CHILDREN WHO ARE EXPOSED TO VIOLENCE

***

1

     This resolution would create a thirteen (13) member special legislative study commission

2

whose purpose it would be to study the impact of the trauma inflicted on children who are

3

exposed to violence, and who would report back to the House of Representatives no later than

4

February 7, 2019, and whose life would expire on May 7, 2019.

========

LC003184

========

 

LC003184 - Page 4 of 4