2022 -- H 7730

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LC003232

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- CHILD ADVOCATE OFFICE

     Introduced By: Representatives Williams, Vella-Wilkinson, Giraldo, Felix, Morales,
Alzate, Perez, Batista, Hull, and Slater

     Date Introduced: March 02, 2022

     Referred To: House State Government & Elections

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 42-73-2.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-73 entitled "Child

Advocate Office" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     42-73-2.1. Advisory committee established.

     (a) There is hereby established an advisory committee to the office of the child advocate

established under § 42-73-1. The advisory committee shall consist of nine (9) members, one

attorney appointed by the Rhode Island Bar Association; one judge or magistrate of the family

court appointed by the chief judge of the family court; one pediatrician with expertise in child and

adolescent treatment or child abuse and neglect appointed by the Rhode Island Medical Society;

one psychologist with expertise in child and adolescent treatment appointed by the Rhode Island

Psychological Association; one Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker appointed by the

Rhode Island Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers; one psychiatrist with

expertise in child and adolescent treatment appointed by the Rhode Island Medical Society; and

three (3) members, one of whom is a youth or parent (foster or birth) formerly involved in the state

child welfare system, familiar with duties established under § 42-73-7, appointed by the child

advocate. No one shall be eligible for appointment unless he or she is a resident of this state. No

member of the advisory committee shall be a person who is a volunteer for, a board member of, or

is employed by or contractor of, any entity or agency subject to the review of, or evaluation or

monitoring by the child advocate pursuant to chapter 73 of title 42, or who lobbies on behalf of any

entity or agency subject to the review of, or evaluation or monitoring by, the child advocate

pursuant to chapter 73 of title 42. Each member of the advisory committee shall serve a term of

five (5) years and may be reappointed at the conclusion of such term. All initial appointments to

the advisory committee shall be made no later than October 1, 2014. Any vacancy in the

membership of the committee shall be filled by the appointing authority for the unexpired portion

of the term. The committee shall elect from among the members a chair and a vice-chair and shall

meet biannually.

     (b) Each appointing authority pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, shall use diversity

as a criteria in making their respective appointments to the committee. The respective appointing

authorities shall also appoint persons who have been, or are part of the community of people who

rely on the services provided by the child welfare system.

     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 STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- CHILD ADVOCATE OFFICE

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     This act would require those persons appointing committee members to the advisory

committee of the child advocate’s office to use diversity as a criteria in making the appointments

and require them to appoint persons who have been, or are part of the community of people who

rely on the services provided by the child welfare system. It would also require that the committee

meet twice annually.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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