2026 -- H 8610

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LC006559

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY THE

ESTABLISHMENT OF AN OFFICE OF THE ELDER ADVOCATE

     Introduced By: Representatives Shallcross Smith, Serpa, Read, Fellela, Casimiro,
Handy, J. Lombardi, Casey, Hull, and Fogarty

     Date Introduced: June 03, 2026

     Referred To: House State Government & Elections

     WHEREAS, More than 240,000 Rhode Island residents are age sixty (60) years or older,

and that number is projected to continue to grow significantly in the coming years, increasing the

demand for coordinated, accessible, and effective advocacy and services for older adults; and

     WHEREAS, Older adults in Rhode Island encounter issues involving age discrimination,

financial exploitation, housing, access to benefits, guardianship, health care, and other service

gaps that may not be fully addressed through existing systems; and

     WHEREAS, The General Assembly finds that it is in the public interest to study the

need, feasibility, and operational requirements for establishing an Office of the Elder Advocate to

promote and protect the rights, dignity, and well-being of older adults in Rhode Island; now,

therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That a special legislative commission be and the same is hereby created

consisting of thirteen (13) members, including members and/or designees with legal, government,

and consumer backgrounds, to study the need for the establishment of an Office of the Elder

Advocate in Rhode Island, as follows:

     Three (3) of whom shall be members of the Rhode Island House of Representatives, not

more than two (2) from the same political party, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; one

of whom shall be a representative from the Rhode Island Bar Association with experience in elder

law, guardianship, or related legal matters, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; one of

whom shall be the Dean of the Roger Williams University School of Law, or designee; one of

whom shall be a representative of the RI Office of Attorney General with experience in consumer

protection, disability rights or Medicaid/ Medicare fraud issues, to be appointed by the Attorney

General; one of whom shall be the Executive Director of the RI Chapter of the AARP, or

designee; one of whom shall be the Executive Director of the Senior Agenda Coalition of RI, or

designee; one of whom shall be the RI Long-Term Care Ombudsman, or designee; one of whom

shall be a representative of a long-term care or aging services provider, to be appointed by the

Speaker of the House; two (2) of whom shall be Rhode Island residents age sixty (60) years or

older, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; and one of whom shall be a representative of

the RI League of Cities and Towns, or designee.

     In lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to a commission created by this

resolution, the appointing authority may appoint a member of the general public to serve in lieu

of a legislator.

     The purpose of said commission shall be to make a comprehensive study and provide

recommendations regarding the need, feasibility, structure, powers, funding, staffing, and

statutory framework for the establishment of an Office of the Elder Advocate including, but not

limited to:

     Examining the scope of unmet needs for legal assistance of older adults in Rhode Island;

     Reviewing existing state, federal, and local advocacy and complaint-resolution systems

serving older adults;

     Guardianship and probate issues;

     Assessing existing state agencies authority, autonomy, capacity, and independence to

address systemic legal concerns affecting older adults;

     Recommending the appropriate duties, powers, jurisdiction, staffing, reporting

requirements and resource needs of an Office of the Elder Advocate;

     Examine by models from other states/territories or jurisdictions; and

     Provide by recommendations regarding legislation necessary to establish the Office, if

appropriate.

     Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall meet at

the call of the Speaker of the House and organize and elect a chairperson from among the

legislative members. Vacancies in said commission shall be filled in like manner as the original

appointment. The membership of said commission shall receive no compensation for their

services.

     All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such advice and information,

documentary and otherwise, to said commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or

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desirable by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this resolution.

     The Speaker of the House is hereby authorized and directed to provide suitable quarters

for said commission; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the commission shall report its findings and recommendations to the

House of Representatives no later than March 15, 2027, and said commission shall expire on June

15, 2027.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY THE

ESTABLISHMENT OF AN OFFICE OF THE ELDER ADVOCATE

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     This resolution would create a special legislative commission to study and provide

recommendations relating to the establishment of an office of the elder advocate. The commission

would report its findings and recommendations to the House of Representatives by March 15,

2027, and would expire on June 15, 2027.

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LC006559

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