2025 -- H 6156
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S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025
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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 STUDY EDUCATIONAL
OUTCOMES FOR CHILDRE N IN STATE CARE
Introduced By: Representatives Casimiro, and Noret
Date Introduced: April 02, 2025
Referred To: House Education
WHEREAS, Pursuant to Article XII, Section 1 of the Rhode Island Constitution, it is the 1
duty of the general assembly to promote public schools and to adopt all means necessary and 2
proper to secure to the people the advantages and opportunities of education; and 3
WHEREAS, As part of this duty, the general assembly must promote and review the 4
adequacy of education received and educational outcomes for children in state care including, but 5
not limited to, those in the custody of the state through the department of children, youth, and 6
families; and 7
WHEREAS, In furtherance of and in support of the general assembly’s role in education, 8
undertaking a review of the educational outcomes afforded to children in state care is an 9
appropriate and necessary step to take at this time; now, therefore be it 10
RESOLVED, That a special legislative commission to study educational outcomes and 11
results for children in state care or custody be and the same is hereby created consisting of 12
fourteen (14) members: two (2) of whom shall be members of the House of Representatives, not 13
more than one from the same political party, to be appointed by the Speaker; one of whom shall 14
be the director of the department of children, youth, and families, or designee; one of whom shall 15
be the commissioner of elementary and secondary education, or designee; one of whom shall be a 16
certified teacher with experience in trauma informed schools to be appointed by the Speaker; one 17
of whom shall be faculty member of the Rhode Island College school of social work, to be 18
appointed by the dean of the school; one of whom shall be the superintendent of the city of 19
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Cranston public schools or designee; one of whom shall be a principal of a public school within 1
the state to be appointed by the Speaker; one of whom shall be the child advocate or designee; 2
one of whom shall be a special education teacher at a public school within the state to be 3
appointed by the Speaker; one of whom shall be a person who was previously in foster care as a 4
child to be appointed by the Speaker; one of whom shall be the executive director of Adoption 5
Rhode Island or designee; one of whom shall be a member of the Rhode Island family court or 6
designee, to be appointed by the chief judge of the family court; and one of whom shall be the 7
chief policy officer for office of the postsecondary commissioner, or designee. 8
In lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to a legislative study 9
commission, or any commission created by a General Assembly resolution, the appointing 10
authority may appoint a member of the general public to serve in lieu of a legislator; provided 11
that, the majority leader or the minority leader of the political party which is entitled to the 12
appointment consents to the appointment of the member of the general public. 13
The purpose of said commission shall be to study, evaluate, and make actionable 14
recommendations on the current state of and suggestions to improve educational outcomes for 15
children in state care and custody, with a special emphasis on educational outcomes for all 16
children in the temporary, permanent, or joint custody of the department of children, youth, 17
families, and with further special emphasis on all children in alternative family settings or “foster 18
care.” The study commission shall consult with other individuals who have relevant expertise as 19
needed. 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 shall select, from among the legislators, co-chairpersons. 22
Vacancies in said commission shall be filled in like manner as the original appointment. 23
The membership of said commission shall receive no compensation for their services. 24
All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such advice and information, 25
documentary and otherwise, to said commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or 26
desirable by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this resolution. 27
The Speaker of the House is hereby authorized and directed to provide suitable quarters 28
for said commission; and be it further 29
RESOLVED, That the commission shall report its findings and recommendations to the 30
General Assembly no later than April 16, 2026, and said commission shall expire on May 28, 31
2026. 32
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