2021 -- H 5250

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LC000038

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2021

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY ENSURING RACIAL

EQUITY AND OPTIMIZING HEALTH AND SAFETY LAWS AFFECTING

MARGINALIZED INDIVIDUALS

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Williams, Ajello, Vella-Wilkinson, Alzate, Henries, and
Morales

     Date Introduced: January 29, 2021

     Referred To: House Health & Human Services

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     WHEREAS, There has been significant research on the safety and health impact of laws

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specifically related to violence, exploitation, stigma, human trafficking and sexual health, but

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more needs to be done analyzing the data; and

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     WHEREAS, These laws disproportionately impact women, transgender individuals, and

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people of color; and

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     WHEREAS, Police treatment and behavior of marginalized and targeted communities,

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especially Black people and transgender women, is being highlighted and addressed throughout

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our Nation and the State of Rhode Island, and it is imperative upon us to ensure justice and

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accountability in the way our laws impact our citizens; and

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     WHEREAS, There has been a documented increase in exploitation and violence against

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people in the sex industry in Rhode Island since the passage of federal legislation

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FOSTA/SESTA; and

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     WHEREAS, A newly-published meta-analysis of 134 studies, spanning many nations and

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published over a 28-year period, showed increased violence and incidence of STIs in jurisdictions

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with repressive police practices; and

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     WHEREAS, A 2017 study, conducted by Baylor University's Scott Cunningham and

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Manisha Shah of the University of California Los Angeles, published in the Review of Economic

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Studies found that during 2003 through 2009, while indoor prostitution was still decriminalized in

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Rhode Island, the number of rapes diminished by 31 percent and the statewide incidence of

 

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gonorrhea among women diminished by 39 percent; now, therefore be it

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

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consisting of thirteen (13) members: two (2) of whom shall be members of the House, to be

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appointed by the Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be from the organization COYOTE-

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RI, to be appointed by the commission Chairperson; one of whom shall be from the organization

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Amnesty International, to be appointed by the commission Chairperson; two (2) of whom shall be

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representatives of organizations serving populations disproportionately impacted by the

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criminalization of commercial sex, with priority given to organizations focused on improving

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public health, supporting survivors of violence and sexual assault, and civil rights organizations,

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to be appointed by the commission Chairperson; one of whom shall be the Director of the

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Department of Health, or designee; one of whom shall be an attorney from the Rhode Island

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Public Defender's Office, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be the

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Rhode Island Attorney General, or designee; one of whom shall be from the Brown University

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Center for the Study of Slavery and Justice, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; two (2)

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of whom shall be individuals that have engaged in commercial sex, to be appointed by the

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commission Chairperson; and one of whom shall be the President of the Rhode Island Police

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Chief's Association, or designee.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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recommendations on the health and safety impact of revising laws related to commercial sexual

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activity, identifying the methods of human trafficking and exploitation to develop strategies to

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reduce these activities, and ensuring accountability in the treatment of marginalized and targeted

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communities by police.

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

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

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legislators.

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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for said commission; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That the commission shall report its findings and results to the House of

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Representatives on or before May 31, 2022, and said commission shall expire on June 30, 2022.

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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 ENSURING RACIAL

EQUITY AND OPTIMIZING HEALTH AND SAFETY LAWS AFFECTING

MARGINALIZED INDIVIDUALS

***

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

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whose purpose it would be to study the health and safety impact of optimizing health and safety

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laws affecting marginalized individuals, and who would report back to the House of

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Representatives on or before May 31, 2022, and said commission would expire on June 30,

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2022.

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