2026 -- S 2236

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LC004194

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026

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J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $100,000 FOR THE RHODE ISLAND COMMISSION

ON PREJUDICE & BIAS

     Introduced By: Senators Mack, Paolino, and Acosta

     Date Introduced: January 23, 2026

     Referred To: Senate Finance

     WHEREAS, The Rhode Island legislature established the Commission on Prejudice and

Bias (the commission) in 1981, in order to study all forms of prejudice, bias, or hatred in this

State and to revise and codify, if possible, all laws relating to all forms of prejudice, bias, or

hatred; and

     WHEREAS, This diverse seventeen (17) member commission is dedicated to tackling the

persistent issues of bigotry in Rhode Island and includes State legislators, gubernatorial appointed

community leaders, Attorney General-appointed members, and law enforcement representatives;

and

     WHEREAS, The commission is a prominent and necessary channel of communication,

collaboration, trust-building and understanding between legislators, law enforcement, and the

communities they are sworn to serve and protect; and

     WHEREAS, The commission provides hate crime training mandated by Rhode Island

General Law § 42-28.2-8.1 for all law enforcement academies; and

     WHEREAS, The commission provides hate crime training and education to current law

enforcement, victim’s advocates, and community groups pursuant to Rhode Island General Law §

42-28-46; and

     WHEREAS, The commission receives reports of hate crimes and incidents from Rhode

Islanders and directs victims to resources whenever possible, while advising police departments

and the Office of the Attorney General where appropriate; and

     WHEREAS, The commission provides invaluable guidance to the Governor, Attorney

General, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Senate President on critical laws and

policies related to prejudice and bias; and

     WHEREAS, The commission has operated successfully through grants from the Victims

of Crime Act, the United States Bureau of Justice Assistance, and the Rhode Island Department

of Administration; and

     WHEREAS, The scope of work has expanded over the decades and the funding streams

once relied on no longer enable the execution of the commission’s mission statement; and

     WHEREAS, Despite its proven success, the commission's operations have been hindered

by diminishing Federal and State funding sources, such as grants from the Victims of Crime Act,

the U.S. Bureau of Justice Assistance, and the Rhode Island Department of Administration, which

are no longer sufficient to meet the demands of reporting and studying all forms of prejudice and

hatred in Rhode Island; and

     WHEREAS, The commission serves on behalf of all Rhode Islanders, is a statutorily

created body, and the thorough execution of its duties and responsibilities is only possible with

the appropriate level of resources; now, therefore be it

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

otherwise appropriated for the fiscal year 2026-2027, the sum of one hundred thousand dollars

($100,000) to be distributed to the Rhode Island Commission on Prejudice and Bias via its fiscal

agent the RI Coalition Against Domestic Violence; and the state controller is hereby authorized

and directed to draw their orders upon the general treasurer for the payment of said sum, 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 $100,000 FOR THE RHODE ISLAND COMMISSION

ON PREJUDICE & BIAS

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     This resolution would appropriate the sum of $100,000 to the Rhode Island Commission

on Prejudice and Bias.

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