A N A C T
RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- GANG VIOLENCE PREVENTION ADVISORY COMMITTEE
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 42-26-18 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-26 entitled "Rhode Island Justice Commission" is hereby amended to read as follows:
42-26-18. Gang violence prevention advisory committee -- (a) There is hereby established in the Rhode Island justice commission, the gang violence prevention advisory committee. The committee shall be composed of the following members:
(1) The executive director of the Rhode Island justice commission or designee.
(2) The attorney general or designee.
(3) The director of the department of corrections or designee.
(4) The presiding justice of superior court or designee.
(5) The chief judge of family court or designee.
(6) The chief judge of district court or designee.
(7) The president of the Rhode Island police chiefs association or designee.
(8) One probation officer who specializes in juvenile probation.
(9) The public defender or designee.
(10) One law enforcement official who specializes in gang related investigations selected by the police chiefs association.
(11) Two (2) representatives of community board organizations selected by the speaker of the house of representatives.
(12) One member of the public selected by the speaker of the house of representatives.
(13) One member of the public selected by the majority leader in the senate.
(14) The director of the department of employment and training or designee.
(15) The commissioner of elementary and secondary education or designee.
(b) The gang violence prevention advisory committee shall coordinate, review, propose and oversee gang prevention, intervention and suppression programs on a state level. The committee shall also coordinate with the Rhode Island justice commission in efforts to obtain federal funds, grants or other appropriations necessary and useful to carry out the purpose of this section.
(c) The executive director of the Rhode Island justice commission shall convene the committees first meeting. A chairperson of the committee shall be elected by a majority vote of the members. The committee shall meet no less than three (3) times annually. The Rhode Island justice commission shall provide staff and financing as necessary.
(d) The committee shall prepare an annual report to the general assembly describing the coordination of the programs authorized in subsection (b). In addition the committee may make recommendations regarding legislative strategies for improvement of those programs. The report with recommendations may be incorporated into any annual report filed by the Rhode Island justice commission to the general assembly.
There is hereby established in the Rhode Island Justice Commission, the Gang Violence Prevention Advisory Committee. The committee shall exist as a permanent sub-committee of the Rhode Island Justice Commission, Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee. The committee shall be composed of members of the Rhode Island Justice Commission, Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee which currently exists within the Rhode Island Justice Commission and is charged by the Governor and the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, to address issues relating to delinquency and youth violence within the state. Membership qualifications are described in subsections i-iii of section 223(A)(3) of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974 as amended. The function and structure of this committee along with its historic activities in gang intervention/prevention will enable it to carry out the intent of this section.
(b) The Gang Violence Prevention Advisory Committee shall coordinate, review, purpose and oversee gang prevention, intervention and suppression programs on a state level. The committee shall also coordinate with Rhode Island Justice Commission in efforts to obtain federal funds, grants or other appropriations necessary and useful to carry out the purpose of this section.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.