2026 -- S 2997

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LC005518

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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 -- VETERANS IDENTIFICATION IN THE

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM

     Introduced By: Senators E Morgan, Raptakis, Rogers, Patalano, Dimitri, Felag, Urso,
Thompson, Paolino, and Ciccone

     Date Introduced: March 04, 2026

     Referred To: Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Title 12 of the General Laws entitled "CRIMINAL PROCEDURE" is hereby

amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

CHAPTER 34

VETERANS IDENTIFICATION IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM

     12-34-1. Short title.

     This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Rhode Island Veterans Identification

in the Criminal Justice System Act."

     12-34-2. Definitions.

     As used in this chapter:

     (1) "Accountability courts" means the veterans treatment courts and other specialty courts

(drug, mental health, or family courts).

     (2) "Community supervision" means probation or parole under Title 13.

     (3) "Diversion programs" means any mechanism applied after charges are filed, including

accountability courts and prosecutor programs.

     (4) "Identity attributes for individuals" means and includes name, date of birth, Social

Security Number, and gender.

     (5) "Law enforcement partners" means and includes police departments, sheriff

departments, courts, jails, and deflection initiatives collaborating with law enforcement.

     (6) "Local deflection initiative" means a community-based coalition assisting individuals

with substance use disorder, mental health disorder, or co-occurring disorders via connection with

local behavioral health systems following contact with law enforcement.

     (7) "Status query and response exchange system" or "SQUARES" means a web application

of the VA providing verified information about veteran status, eligibility for healthcare, and VA

programs.

     (8) "Veterans justice outreach program" means the VA office charged with early

identification of justice-involved veterans and facilitating access to services.

     (9) "Veterans justice outreach specialists" means VA representatives tasked with

identifying justice-involved veterans, conducting outreach, facilitating access to VA and other

services, and providing case management.

     (10) "Veterans reentry search service" or "VRSS" means the secure database maintained

by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs enabling correctional and criminal justice

entities to identify veterans.

     (11) "Veteran sentencing option" means a statutory provision where disposition is

postponed pending completion of a therapeutic case plan administered by a judge and community

supervision.

     12-34-3. Definition of "veteran" for criminal justice system.

     (1) For purposes of identification in the Rhode Island criminal justice system, a "veteran"

is a person who:

     (i) Swore an oath and entered any branch of the Armed Forces, including the National

Guard or Reserves, and is:

     (ii) Currently serving; or

     (iii) Was discharged, that was not a dishonorable discharge, unless the individual with a

dishonorable discharge has been diagnosed with substance use disorder, military sexual trauma,

traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, or another mental health condition.

     (2) This definition does not affect veteran status for any other purpose and does not create

additional rights or benefits.

     12-34-4. Law enforcement applicability.

     (a) Within twenty-four (24) hours of any law enforcement contact, with or without an

arrest, the administrator of the local law enforcement department shall:

     (1) Provide necessary information for verification through SQUARES to the Rhode Island

department of veterans services (RIVETS), if applicable, to verify the veteran status of all

individuals who have made contact with law enforcement.

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     (i) The administrator may coordinate with the RIVETS to ensure verification.

     (ii) In the absence of the administrator shall request the veterans justice outreach specialist

to conduct verification of veteran status.

     (2) In the absence of a designated partner as in subsection (a)(1) of this section, the local

law enforcement department shall conduct verification using VRSS or similar federal service, or

request verification from a veterans justice outreach specialist.

     (b) Each week, RIVETS shall submit a report identifying each individual whose veteran

status was verified during the previous week to:

     (1) The Rhode Island department of veterans services under title 42;

     (2) The nearest veterans justice outreach specialist;

     (3) The court where charges are pending;

     (4) Judge, prosecuting attorney, managing public defender, and the veteran-client's

attorney of record; and

     (5) Coordinator of any specialty court program authorized by the Rhode Island supreme

court.

     (c) The administrator shall provide veteran arrestees or inmates reasonable access to:

     (1) Deflection initiative personnel;

     (2) Rhode Island department of veterans services;

     (3) VA representatives to facilitate applications for:

     (i) Identification and referral to community resources;

     (ii) Federal or state benefits or compensation;

     (iii) Treatment through veterans treatment specialty courts or other accountability courts;

     (iv) Diversion programs other than accountability courts;

     (v) Veteran sentencing option; and

     (vi) Sentencing mitigation.

     (d) Notify veteran arrestees and inmates about assigned veterans justice outreach

specialists.

     (e) Verified veteran status shall be shared with the judge, prosecutor, managing public

defender, veteran’s attorney, and specialty court coordinator.

     SECTION 2. Chapter 13-8 of the General Laws entitled "Parole" is hereby amended by

adding thereto the following section:

     13-8-32.1. Community supervision applicability -- Veterans.

     (a) Within twenty-one (21) days of community supervision sentence or start date, the

administrator or designee, of Rhode Island probation or parole, or the RIVETS shall:

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     (1) Verify veteran status using VRSS or a similar service;

     (2) Notify verified veterans of assigned veterans justice outreach specialists;

     (3) Allow verified veterans in-person or video access to VA or county veterans service

coordinators;

     (4) Assist verified veterans in applying for federal benefits, including mailing applications

on behalf of the supervisee;

     (5) Submit weekly reports of verified supervisees to Rhode Island department of veterans

services.

     SECTION 3. Chapter 42-56 of the General Laws entitled "Corrections Department" is

hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

     42-56-43. Administration of veteran status.

     (a) Within seven (7) days of intake, the director of the correctional facility, designee, or

RIVETS shall:

     (1) Verify veteran status using VRSS or similar service;

     (2) Assist verified veteran inmates with federal benefits and applications;

     (3) Submit weekly reports of newly verified veteran inmates to the Rhode Island

department of veterans services, and relevant courts;

     (4) Allow in-person or video visitation with VA or veteran coordinators at no cost.

     (b) Administrators shall notify the VA in writing by mail, email, or fax between sixty-one

(61) and ninety (90) days of initial incarceration for felony veterans still in custody.

     (c) Administrators shall notify the VA within seven (7) days of release from custody for

inmates incarcerated more than sixty (60) days.

     (d) Verified veteran status shall be shared with the judge, prosecutor, managing public

defender, veteran’s attorney, and specialty court coordinator.

     SECTION 4. 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 -- VETERANS IDENTIFICATION IN THE

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM

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     This act would provide services for veterans in the criminal justice system ensuring

disclosure and connections with federal and state resources.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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