R 424
2026 -- S 2940 SUBSTITUTE A AS AMENDED
Enacted 06/11/2026

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

     RESOLVED, That a special legislative commission be and same is hereby created
consisting of 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; and six (6) current members or coordinators of an
existing Juvenile Hearing Board to be appointed by the President of the Senate.
     The purpose of said commission shall be to study current practices of state and municipal
Juvenile Hearing Boards established pursuant to ยงยง 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.
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LC005844/SUB A
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