Requires state use actual residences of persons in government custody for redistricting purposes. Information would be collected by the department of corrections and forwarded to the division of statewide planning, to be utilized for redistricting.
Impact
The legislative intent behind HB 5538 is to create a more accurate reflection of the state's population distribution, thereby improving electoral fairness. The Department of Corrections is tasked with collecting and maintaining electronic records of the last known addresses of individuals entering custody. This data will subsequently be forwarded to the Division of Statewide Planning to ensure that electoral districts reflect where individuals actually reside rather than where they are confined. This move is likely to affect congressional and state legislative redistricting efforts significantly.
Summary
House Bill 5538, known as the 'Residence of Individuals in Government Custody Act', outlines a significant change in how individuals in government custody are counted for redistricting purposes in Rhode Island. The bill mandates that these individuals be counted at their actual residences, rather than the addresses of the facilities where they are incarcerated. This change aims to address discrepancies in the census that classify incarcerated individuals as residents of their correctional facilities, which can distort population data and electoral representation in various districts.
Contention
The bill anticipates potential contention regarding the classification and data collection of individuals in government custody. Critics may argue that ensuring accurate residency records could lead to complications or biases in redistricting practices, especially pertaining to the identification and reporting methods used for individuals who may be transient or have previously unstable living situations. Furthermore, ensuring confidentiality for incarcerated persons' data while providing sufficient detail for accurate representation poses logistical challenges.
Further_considerations
The act stipulates that redistricting data must differentiate between those who are known to live at a specific address versus those whose residences are unknown. Additionally, it highlights necessary annual reports to ensure data completeness and accuracy. By adopting this measure, HB 5538 not only provides a framework for future electoral integrity but also reflects a broader commitment to account for the demographic realities of all state residents, including those in government custody.
Requires state use actual residences of persons in government custody for redistricting purposes. Information would be collected by the department of corrections and forwarded to the secretary of state to be utilized for redistricting.
Requires the department of administration to publish a report to the speaker of the house, president of the senate, and secretary of housing evaluating the cost to establish and maintain a statewide geographic information system.
Requires that Medicaid enrollment be maintained or provided to all inmates in the first 30 days of incarceration at the adult correctional institutions within the department of corrections and the last 30 days of incarceration.
Requires, by January 1, 2026, the creation of an online, publicly available, comprehensive statewide geographic information system of land related resources to include information from all towns and cities.
Requires that Medicaid enrollment be maintained or provided to all inmates in the first 30 days of incarceration at the adult correctional institutions within the department of corrections and the last 30 days of incarceration when possible.
Joint Resolution Making An Appropriation Of $25,000,000 To The Rhode Island Division Of Statewide Planning (ridsp) To Fund The Statewide Bicycle Mobility Plan (bmp) (authorizes The Appropriation Of The Sum Of $25,000,000 To The Rhode Island Division Of Statewide Planning To Fund The Bicycle Mobility Plan.)
Requires state use actual residences of persons in government custody for redistricting purposes. Information would be collected by the department of corrections and forwarded to the division of statewide planning, to be utilized for redistricting.
Resolve, to Evaluate the Effectiveness of Programs Within the Department of Corrections That Prepare Correctional Facility Residents for Employment and Self-sufficiency Upon Release from Incarceration
Directs the Dept. of Public Safety and Corrections to conduct a comprehensive statewide review of factors affecting the state's incarceration and recidivism rates