2023 -- H 5606
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LC001407
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S TATE OF RHODE IS LAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023
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A N A C T
RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- CITIZENS' COMMISSION FOR THE SAFETY
AND CARE OF THE ELDERLY
Introduced By: Representatives Messier, McNamara, Potter, Diaz, and Fellela
Date Introduced: February 15, 2023
Referred To: House State Government & Elections
(Office of Healthy Aging)
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. The title of Chapter 12-1.4 of the General Laws entitled "Citizens’ 1
Commission for the Safety and Care of the Elderly" is hereby amended to read as follows: 2
CHAPTER 12-1.4 3
Citizens’ Commission for the Safety and Care of the Elderly 4
CHAPTER 12-1.4 5
COMMISSION FOR THE SAFETY AND CARE OF THE ELDERLY 6
SECTION 2. Sections 12-1.4-1, 12-1.4-2, 12-1.4-3, 12-1.4-4, 12-1.4-7 and 12-1.4-9 of the 7
General Laws in Chapter 12-1.4 entitled "Citizens’ Commission for the Safety and Care of the 8
Elderly" are hereby amended to read as follows: 9
12-1.4-1. Short title. 10
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Citizens’ “Commission for the Safety 11
and Care of the Elderly.” 12
12-1.4-2. Creation. 13
There is established within the department of elderly affairs the citizens’ commission for 14
the safety and care of the elderly office of healthy aging the commission for the safety and care of 15
the elderly. 16
12-1.4-3. Purpose. 17
The purpose of the commission shall be to act as a liaison between the legislature, public 18
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safety officials, the office of healthy aging, and the older population of Rhode Island in the area of 1
crime against the elderly, injury and fire safety, and protective service options available to the 2
elderly. The commission shall also outline suggested responsibilities for and facilitate training 3
requirements of older adults, police, and fire advocates. 4
12-1.4-4. Membership. 5
(a) The commission shall consist of twenty-one (21) twenty-two (22) members, eight (8) 6
three (3) of whom shall be older citizens adults appointed by the speaker and seven (7) three (3) of 7
whom shall be older citizens adults appointed by the president of the senate; one of whom shall be 8
an older adult appointed by the governor's office; all seven (7) of whom shall be appointed for a 9
term of two (2) years. The speaker shall appoint three (3) members and the president of the senate 10
shall appoint two (2) members for terms of three (3) years; the speaker shall appoint three (3) 11
members and the president of the senate shall appoint two (2) members for terms of two (2) years; 12
and the speaker shall appoint two (2) members and the president of the senate shall appoint three 13
(3) members for a term of one year. These terms shall commence with the date of appointment and 14
expire on the January 31 after the appointment corresponding with the number of years of the term 15
to which appointed. Appointments shall be made for terms of three (3) years commencing on 16
February 1 in the year of appointment and ending on January 31 in the third year after the 17
appointment. Commission members may remain in their position beyond the three (3) year term 18
until new members are duly appointed. Any vacancy among the members shall be filled by the 19
appointing authority for the remainder of the unexpired term. 20
(b) The remaining six (6) fifteen (15) members of the commission shall be the president of 21
the Police Chiefs’ Association or his or her designee; the attorney general or his or her designee; 22
the director of elderly affairs the office of healthy aging or his or her designee; a representative of 23
the state police appointed by the superintendent of the state police, the president of the fire chief’s 24
association, or his or her designee and, the state fire marshal or his or her designee; all six (6) of 25
whom shall be appointed for a term of three (3) years and up to nine (9) representatives to be 26
decided by the commission to include representatives of agencies and organizations who work 27
directly with older adults. Such members and organizations represented may include, but not be 28
limited to, individuals residing in elder housing and/or elder shelters, medical providers, legal 29
services, community organizations and senior centers. 30
(c) The members of the commission shall meet at the call of the speaker of the house 31
director and organize and shall select a chairperson from among themselves. Vacancies on the 32
commission shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment. 33
12-1.4-7. Cooperation of departments. 34
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(a) All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish any advice and information, 1
documentary and otherwise, to the commission and its agents deemed necessary or desirable by the 2
commission to facilitate the purposes of this chapter. 3
(b) Each local police and fire chief shall designate at least one sworn police officer 4
department representative or sworn fire fighter department representative to serve as the 5
department’s “senior citizen police older adults police safety advocate” to work as a liaison between 6
the department and the elderly community to help address elderly safety and protection issues. 7
12-1.4-9. Reports to general assembly. 8
The commission shall report its findings and recommendations regarding the improvement 9
of elder safety issues to the general assembly, the governor's office, and the office of healthy aging 10
on or before January 25 of each year. 11
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage. 12
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- CITIZENS' COMMISSION FOR THE SAFETY
AND CARE OF THE ELDERLY
***
This act would amend several sections of law relating to safety and care for the elderly 1
including amending the composition of the citizens safety commission and requiring designated 2
representatives within the police and fire departments to serve as older adults' safety advocates. 3
This act would take effect upon passage. 4
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