2025 -- S 0360
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LC000970
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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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S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N
CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY AND ASSESS
EDUCATION MODULES FO R DIVORCING PARENTS
Introduced By: Senators Appollonio, Burke, and Vargas
Date Introduced: February 21, 2025
Referred To: Senate Judiciary
WHEREAS, Research conclusively shows that the failure of divorced parents to co-1
parent, cooperate, and communicate constructively for the benefit of their minor children has 2
harmful effects on both the parents and their children; and 3
WHEREAS, These harmful effects can include anxiety, depression, social withdrawal, 4
impaired school attendance and academic performance, reduced work productivity, substance 5
abuse, and self-harm, all of which impact public health and draw on social services and medical 6
services; and 7
WHEREAS, Effective co-parenting, communication, and collaboration between divorced 8
parents has been shown to reduce the risk of the above-stated harmful effects; and 9
WHEREAS, The State of Rhode Island currently does not have a robust marketplace, in 10
either the public or private sector, of educational offerings for divorcing or divorced parents to 11
learn co-parenting, communication, and collaboration skills and practices; now, therefore be it 12
RESOLVED, That a special legislative commission be and the same is hereby created 13
consisting of nine (9) members: three (3) of whom shall be members of the Senate, not more than 14
two (2) from the same political party, to be appointed by the President of the Senate; one of 15
whom shall be a social worker experienced in dealing with families of divorce, to be appointed by 16
the President of the Senate; one of whom shall be a professional writer/editor; to be appointed by 17
the President of the Senate; one of whom shall be a licensed marriage/family therapist, to be 18
appointed by the President of the Senate; one of whom shall be a licensed adult psychologist or 19
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psychiatrist, to be appointed by the President of the Senate; one of whom shall be a licensed 1
adolescent psychologist or psychiatrist, to be appointed by the President of the Senate; and one of 2
whom shall be a family law attorney, to be appointed by the President of the Senate. 3
In lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to a permanent advisory 4
commission, a legislative study commission, or any commission created by a General Assembly 5
resolution, the appointing authority may appoint a member of the general public to serve in lieu 6
of a legislator. 7
The purpose of said commission shall be to make a comprehensive study and assess 8
education modules for divorcing parents that shall include: 9
Researching educational modules on parenting through and after divorce, offered both 10
regionally (i.e., New England) and nationally including, any academic or peer-reviewed studies 11
regarding the efficacy of educational modules on parenting through and after divorce; 12
Evaluating a variety of educational modules based on style, curriculum, pedagogical 13
approach, length of class, duration of overall programming, and format (including but not limited 14
to: online modules; prerecorded video modules; and in-person classes, seminars, and/or 15
workshops); 16
Conclusions on what educational modules are or would be most effective in promoting 17
effective co-parenting or parallel parenting, collaboration, and communication between divorcing 18
parents including, judgments of module efficacy for divorcing couples exhibiting low, medium, 19
and high levels of conflict; 20
Recommendations on any available supplemental programming or educational modules 21
for the entire family: i.e., the minor children of the divorcing parents as well as the parents 22
themselves; 23
Making recommendations on how a robust marketplace of the best and most efficacious 24
educational modules for divorcing parents could be developed in the State of Rhode Island; and 25
Any other relevant information or recommendations pertaining to this topic. 26
Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall meet at 27
the call of the President of the Senate and organize and shall select a chairperson from among the 28
legislators. 29
Vacancies in said commission shall be filled in like manner as the original appointment. 30
The membership of said commission shall receive no compensation for their services. 31
All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such advice and information, 32
documentary and otherwise, to said commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or 33
desirable by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this resolution. 34
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The Joint Committee on Legislative Services is hereby authorized and directed to provide 1
suitable quarters for said commission; and be it further 2
RESOLVED, That the commission shall report its findings and recommendations to the 3
Senate no later than January 27, 2026, and said commission shall expire on March 27, 2026. 4
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LC000970
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N
CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY AND ASSESS
EDUCATION MODULES FO R DIVORCING PARENTS
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This resolution would create a nine (9) member special legislative study commission 1
whose purpose it would be to make a comprehensive study and assessment of the most effective 2
education modules for divorcing parents and how they may be implemented in the State of Rhode 3
Island, and who would report back to the Senate no later than January 27, 2026, and whose life 4
would expire on March 27, 2026. 5
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LC000970
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