Title 42
State Affairs and Government

Chapter 73
Child Advocate Office

§ 42-73-2.1. Advisory committee established.

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 the person 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 this chapter, 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 this chapter. 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.