2020 -- S 2867 | |
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LC005427 | |
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND | |
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY | |
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2020 | |
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S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N | |
CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE TASK FORCE TO REVIEW AND PROVIDE | |
RECOMMENDATIONS ON POLICIES PERTAINING TO THE RHODE ISLAND LAW | |
ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS’ BILL OF RIGHTS (LEOBOR) | |
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Introduced By: Senators Metts, Ruggerio, McCaffrey, Goodwin, and Coyne | |
Date Introduced: June 12, 2020 | |
Referred To: Senate Judiciary | |
1 | WHEREAS, The safety and security of individuals is a high priority and of utmost |
2 | concern; and |
3 | WHEREAS, In a free society, law enforcement is essential in order to promote public |
4 | safety and uphold the rule of law so that individual liberty may flourish; and |
5 | WHEREAS, Good will, trust, and accountability between law enforcement and the |
6 | communities they are sworn to protect is crucial to advancing these goals; and |
7 | WHEREAS, The Law Enforcement Officers' Bill of Rights ("LEOBOR") was adopted in |
8 | Rhode Island in 1976, and was codified in Rhode Island General Laws Chapter 42-28.6; and |
9 | WHEREAS, Since its passing, the LEOBOR has been amended several times, however it |
10 | has not undergone a substantive review since 1995; and |
11 | WHEREAS, Recent events and tragedies have again revealed the need to review and |
12 | strengthen conduct and discipline policies within law enforcement agencies across the nation and |
13 | in Rhode Island, thus, it is essential that a comprehensive examination and evaluation of the |
14 | LEOBOR is undertaken; now, therefore be it |
15 | RESOLVED, That a special legislative task force be and the same is hereby created |
16 | consisting of thirteen (13) members; three (3) of whom shall be members of the Senate, not more |
17 | than two (2) from the same political party, to be appointed by the President of the Senate; one of |
18 | whom shall be the Rhode Island Attorney General, or designee; one of whom shall be the |
19 | Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police, or designee; one of whom shall be a police chief |
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1 | of a Rhode Island law enforcement agency, to be appointed by the President of the Senate; one of |
2 | whom shall be the Executive Director of the Rhode Island Human Rights Commission, or |
3 | designee; one of whom shall be the President of the National Association for the Advancement of |
4 | Colored People Providence Branch (NAACP), or designee; one of whom shall be the President of |
5 | the Rhode Island AFL-CIO, or designee; one of whom shall be the Executive Director of the |
6 | Latino Policy Institute at Roger Williams University, or designee; one of whom shall be the |
7 | Executive Director of the Providence External Review Authority, or designee; and two (2) of |
8 | whom shall be members of the public to be appointed by the Senate President. |
9 | In lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to a permanent advisory |
10 | commission, a legislative study commission, or any commission or task force created by a |
11 | General Assembly resolution, the appointing authority may appoint a member of the general |
12 | public to serve in lieu of a legislator, provided that the majority leader or the minority leader of |
13 | the political party which is entitled to the appointment consents to the member of the general |
14 | public. |
15 | The purpose of said task force shall be to make a comprehensive study and provide |
16 | recommendations on the Law Enforcement Officers' Bill of Rights including, but not limited to: |
17 | Protect the rights of our residents; |
18 | Conduct and accountability responsibilities; |
19 | Police relations with racial and ethnic minority communities; |
20 | Police management; |
21 | Disciplinary procedures; |
22 | Enhanced training for cultural competency; and |
23 | Diversity in all law enforcement agencies. |
24 | Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, the members of the task force shall meet at the |
25 | call of the President of the Senate who shall appoint a chairperson, and organize. |
26 | Vacancies in said task force shall be filled in like manner as the original appointment. |
27 | The membership of said task force shall receive no compensation for their services. |
28 | All departments and agencies of the state, shall furnish such advice and information, |
29 | documentary and otherwise, to said task force and its agents as is deemed necessary or desirable |
30 | by the task force to facilitate the purposes of this resolution. |
31 | The Joint Committee on Legislative Services is hereby authorized and directed to provide |
32 | suitable quarters for said task force; and be it further |
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1 | RESOLVED, That the task force shall report its findings and recommendations to the |
2 | Senate no later than February 9, 2021, and said task force shall expire on May 9, 2021. |
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LC005427 | |
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EXPLANATION | |
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL | |
OF | |
S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N | |
CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE TASK FORCE TO REVIEW AND PROVIDE | |
RECOMMENDATIONS ON POLICIES PERTAINING TO THE RHODE ISLAND LAW | |
ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS’ BILL OF RIGHTS (LEOBOR) | |
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1 | This resolution would create a thirteen (13) member special legislative study task force |
2 | whose purpose it would be to study and provide recommendations on policies pertaining to the |
3 | Rhode Island Law Enforcement Officers’ Bill of Rights, and who would report back to the Senate |
4 | no later than February 9, 2021, and whose life would expire on May 9, 2021. |
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LC005427 | |
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