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

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

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

more needs to be done analyzing the data; and

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

people of color; and

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

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

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

accountability in the way our laws impact our citizens; and

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

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

FOSTA/SESTA; and

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

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

with repressive police practices; and

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

representatives of organizations serving populations disproportionately impacted by the

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Chief's Association, or designee.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

communities by police.

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

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

legislators.

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

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

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

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.

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

for said commission; and be it further

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

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

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

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

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

2022.

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