2026 -- S 2940 SUBSTITUTE A

========

LC005844/SUB A

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026

____________

S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY AND PROVIDE

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR JUVENILE HEARING BOARDS

     Introduced By: Senators Vargas, LaMountain, Quezada, Bell, DiMario, Urso, Mack,
Acosta, Bissaillon, and Euer

     Date Introduced: March 04, 2026

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

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

consisting of at least seventeen (17) but no more than nineteen (19) members: one of whom shall

be the Chief Judge of the Family Court, or designee; one of whom shall be the director of the

Department of Children, Youth & Families, or designee; one of whom shall be the Attorney

General, or designee; one of whom shall be the Public Defender, or designee; four (4) of whom

shall be members of the Senate, with at least one member of the minority party, to be appointed

by the President of the Senate; one of whom shall be the Executive Director of the Rhode Island

Police Chiefs Association, or designee; one of whom shall be the Child Advocate, or designee;

one of whom shall be the Executive Director of Rhode Island Kids Count, or designee; one of

whom shall be the Executive Director of Rhode Island Community Justice, or designee; one of

whom shall be the Executive Director of the League of Cities and Towns, or designee; no less

than three (3), but up to five (5) current members of a Juvenile Hearing Board, preferably from

the cities of Central Falls, Pawtucket, Cranston, or Providence to be appointed by the President of

the Senate; and one of whom shall be a representative from SEIU Local #580 to be appointed by

the president of SEIU Local #580.

     The purpose of said commission shall be to study current practices of state and municipal

Juvenile Hearing Boards established pursuant to §§ 8-10-23.1 or 8-10-23.2, to identify best

practices, evaluate statewide coordination and board member training opportunities, examine

appropriate methods of data collection and reporting standards, and provide recommendations to

the Senate for revisions to state law.

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

the call of the President of the Senate, and shall commence in October 2026, organize, and select

one member to serve as chairperson of the commission.

     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

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

     The President of the Senate 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

Senate on or before November 30, 2027, and shall expire on December 31, 2027.

========

LC005844/SUB A

========

LC005844/SUB A - Page 2 of 2

EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY AND PROVIDE

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR JUVENILE HEARING BOARDS

***

     This resolution would create a nineteen (19) member special legislative study

commission whose purpose it would be to study current practices of state and municipal Juvenile

Hearing Boards established pursuant to §§ 8-10-23.1 or 8-10-23.2, and who would report back to

the Senate by November 30, 2027, and would expire on December 31, 2027.

========

LC005844/SUB A

========

LC005844/SUB A - Page 3 of 2