2023 -- H 5353
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LC001266
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S TATE OF RHODE IS LAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023
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H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N
CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO EXAMINE AND MA KE
RECOMMENDATIONS TO C OMBAT THE RISING THREAT OF TARGETED VIOLENCE
AGAINST FAITH COMMUN ITIES
Introduced By: Representatives Fenton-Fung, Shallcross Smith, Biah, and Cotter
Date Introduced: February 03, 2023
Referred To: House Health & Human Services
WHEREAS, Rhode Island was historically the first colony to be founded upon and 1
governed by the principles of religious liberty and freedom; and 2
WHEREAS, In recent years, a troubling and divisive pattern of increased aggression and 3
violence against faith communities has substantially escalated; and 4
WHEREAS, It is essential that police, businesses, individuals and law makers at all 5
levels, develop a framework to establish ways to educate, prevent, and ultimately alleviate this 6
violence against faith communities; now, therefore be it 7
RESOLVED, That a special legislative commission be and the same is hereby created 8
consisting of fifteen (15) members: three (3) of whom shall be members of the Rhode Island 9
House of Representatives, not more than two (2) from the same political party, to be appointed by 10
the Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be the Chair of the Rhode Island Commission on 11
Prejudice and Bias, or designee; one of whom shall be the Colonel of the Rhode Island State 12
Police, or designee; one of whom shall be the President of the Rhode Island Police Chiefs' 13
Association, or designee; six (6) of whom shall be community faith leaders, one each representing 14
the Jewish, Roman Catholic, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, Sikh, and Protestant faith communities, to 15
be appointed by the Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be a member of the leadership of 16
the International Brotherhood of Police Officers (IBPO), to be appointed by the Speaker of the 17
House; one of whom shall be a member of the leadership of the Fraternal Order of Police, to be 18
appointed by the Speaker of the House; and one of whom shall be the Rhode Island Attorney 19
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General, or designee. 1
In lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to a legislative study 2
commission, the appointing authority may appoint a member of the general public to serve in lieu 3
of a legislator; provided that, the majority leader or the minority leader of the political party 4
which is entitled to the appointment consents to the member of the general public. 5
The purpose of said commission shall be to examine and provide recommendations to 6
combat the rising threat of targeted violence against faith communities including, but not limited 7
to: 8
• Research and analyze statewide trends, relevant risk factors, and stressors related to 9
targeted violence and prevention against faith communities; 10
• Examine methods and policies to establish or enhance state-wide capabilities to prevent 11
targeted violence against faith communities; 12
• Develop a robust and sustainable local prevention framework against targeted violence 13
against faith communities; 14
• Assess procedures to address online aspects of targeted violence against faith 15
communities; and 16
• Examine, investigate and provide recommendations for potential methods to fund, 17
establish and enhance training, increase public and societal awareness, and develop partnerships 18
across every level of the government, the private sector, and in local communities to address 19
violence against faith communities. 20
Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall meet at 21
the call of the Speaker of the House and organize and shall select a Chairperson from among the 22
legislators. 23
Vacancies in said commission shall be filled in like manner as the original appointment. 24
The membership of said commission shall receive no compensation for their services. 25
All departments and agencies of the state, shall furnish such advice and information, 26
documentary and otherwise, to said commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or 27
desirable by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this resolution. 28
The Speaker of the House is hereby authorized and directed to provide suitable quarters 29
for said commission; and be it further 30
RESOLVED, That the commission shall report its findings and recommendations to the 31
House of Representatives no later than February 7, 2024, and said commission shall expire on 32
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May 7, 2024. 1
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N
CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO EXAMINE AND MAK E
RECOMMENDATIONS TO C OMBAT THE RISING THREAT OF TARGETED VIOLENCE
AGAINST FAITH COMMUN ITIES
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This resolution would create a fifteen (15) member special legislative commission whose 1
purpose it would be to examine and make recommendations to combat the rising threat of 2
targeted violence against faith communities, and who would report back to the House of 3
Representatives no later than February 7, 2024, and whose life would expire on May 7, 2024. 4
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LC001266
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