Rhode Island House Bill H5917

Rhode Island 2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/1/23
• Refer: 3/1/23

Caption

The Rourke Act

Impact

One of the critical provisions of H5917 is the imposition of physical distance regulations on perpetrators of domestic violence. Specifically, individuals convicted of domestic assault will be legally prohibited from coming within 100 feet of the survivors or their children’s schools. This legal boundary is designed to enhance the safety and peace of mind of victims and their families. In conjunction with this, the bill mandates that such individuals must wear monitoring ankle bracelets to ensure compliance with the distance requirements, thereby enabling real-time tracking of their location relative to the survivor.

Summary

House Bill 5917, also known as The Rourke Act, represents a significant legislative effort aimed at enhancing protections for victims of domestic violence in the state. This bill proposes the establishment of a survivor support fund with a guaranteed annual appropriation of at least five million dollars dedicated to assisting survivors of domestic assault. The fund is intended to provide crucial resources for individuals seeking safety and support following incidents of domestic violence, thereby strengthening the state's commitment to addressing these urgent social concerns.

Contention

Moreover, the bill introduces strict firearm restrictions for individuals with a history of domestic violence. Under H5917, any individual convicted of domestic violence will not be allowed to own, possess, or carry firearms within state borders. This provision aims to mitigate potential threats to survivors, as access to firearms has been a significant factor in domestic violence cases. Despite the overall protective intentions of this legislation, discussions around the bill may raise points of contention regarding the balance between public safety measures and rights of the accused, particularly in relation to monitoring and firearm ownership restrictions.