2026 -- H 7653

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LC005098

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PREVENTION ACT

     Introduced By: Representatives Felix, Alzate, Kazarian, Tanzi, Sanchez, and Furtado

     Date Introduced: February 11, 2026

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     (Judiciary)

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 12-29-8 of the General Laws in Chapter 12-29 entitled "Domestic

Violence Prevention Act" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     12-29-8. Domestic violence reports.

     (a) A law enforcement officer who responds to or investigates a domestic violence incident

shall complete a domestic violence report/sexual assault reporting form, whether or not an arrest

occurs.

     (b) For the purpose of establishing accurate data on the extent and severity of domestic

violence in the state and on the degree of compliance with the requirements of § 12-29-3, the

domestic violence training and monitoring unit of the court system within the administrative office

of state courts shall prescribe a form and process for making submitting domestic violence reports

information to the unit. The form shall include, but is not limited to, the following information:

     (1) Name of the parties;

     (2) Relationship of the parties;

     (3) Sex of the parties;

     (4) Date of birth of the parties;

     (5) Time and date of the incident;

     (6) Whether children were involved or whether the alleged act of domestic violence was

committed in the presence of children;

     (7) Type and extent of the alleged abuse;

     (8) Number and types of weapons involved;

     (9) Existence of any prior court order; and

     (10) Existence of any language barriers;

     (11) Felony enhancement notation; and

     (10)(12) Any other data that may be necessary for a complete analysis of all circumstances

leading to the arrest of an incident subject to reporting under this section.

     (c) Each police law enforcement department shall forward copies of electronically submit

the domestic violence/sexual assault reporting forms and the reports corresponding police report

narratives to the unit at the end of each month. For those cases that were still under investigation

or for which an arrest warrant had been issued, but not yet executed in a given month, the

responsible law enforcement department shall electronically submit the domestic violence/sexual

assault reporting forms and the corresponding police report narratives as soon as practicable, but

not later than the end of the calendar year in which the incident occurred.

     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 CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PREVENTION ACT

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     This act would require the electronic filing of domestic violence/sexual assault reporting

forms by law enforcement agencies, enhance the information to be included on the reporting forms,

and clarify that the reporting forms should be submitted monthly, or as soon as practicable upon

receipt of all relevant information regarding an incident subject to reporting.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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