2024 -- H 8002

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LC005253

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2024

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J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $500,000 TO DAY ONE, RHODE ISLAND'S SEXUAL

ASSAULT COALITION AND RAPE CRISIS CENTER

     Introduced By: Representatives McEntee, Fogarty, Tanzi, O'Brien, Caldwell, Knight,
Handy, Casimiro, Edwards, and McGaw

     Date Introduced: March 05, 2024

     Referred To: House Finance

     WHEREAS, For over fifty years, Day One has been the only agency in Rhode Island that

is specifically organized to deal with issues of sexual assault as a community concern. It serves

as a vital resource for survivors of sexual assault, providing comprehensive treatment,

intervention, education, advocacy, and prevention services to Rhode Islanders of all ages -- from

preschool children to elder adults; and

     WHEREAS, Day One, with a history spanning five decades, has played a pivotal role in

raising awareness, advocating for legislative change, and fostering a safer and more

compassionate community for all Rhode Islanders; and

     WHEREAS, Day One's services are inclusive and accessible to all individuals regardless

of gender, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic status, ensures that survivors

receive the support they need in a safe and nonjudgmental environment, and has a profound

impact on the community through its unwavering commitment to fostering a safer and more

compassionate society; and

     WHEREAS, Sexual assault, harassment, and abuse happen in all communities, with

young people experiencing heightened rates of sexual violence, with one in six boys and one in

four girls experiencing a sexual assault before the age of eighteen, and with youth between the

ages of twelve and seventeen being 2.5 times as likely to be victims of rape or sexual assault; and

     WHEREAS, After 50 years, Day One remains dedicated to empowering survivors,

promoting consent and respect, and challenging the systems and attitudes that perpetuate sexual

violence. Through collaboration with partner organizations, government agencies, and passionate

advocates, Day One works to create a safer and more compassionate Rhode Island for all. From

its humble beginnings in the 1970s to its present-day impact, Day One continues to play a vital

role in addressing sexual violence and working towards a more just and compassionate society;

and

     WHEREAS, Day One relies heavily on government grants, private donations, and

community support to sustain its critical services and programs, which are essential for promoting

healing, justice, and social change in Rhode Island. Many of these federal subsidies have been

drastically cut and threaten the loss of services to victims in need throughout the State; now,

therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That there is hereby appropriated out of any money in the treasury not

otherwise appropriated for the fiscal year 2024-2025, the sum of five hundred thousand dollars

($500,000) to Day One, Rhode Island's Sexual Assault Coalition and Rape Crisis Center, to

bolster its efforts in supporting survivors and combating sexual violence statewide; and the state

controller is hereby authorized and directed to draw his orders upon the general treasurer for the

payment of said sum, or so much thereof as may be from time to time required, upon receipt of

properly authenticated vouchers.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $500,000 TO DAY ONE, RHODE ISLAND'S SEXUAL

ASSAULT COALITION AND RAPE CRISIS CENTER

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     This resolution would authorize the appropriation of the sum of $500,000 to Day One.

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