HOUSE RESOLUTION DESIGNATING APRIL OF 2026, TO BE "SECOND CHANCE MONTH" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

H8392

2026 -- H 8392
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LC004531
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N
DESIGNATING APRIL OF 2026, TO BE "SECOND CHANCE MONTH" IN THE STATE OF
RHODE ISLAND

Introduced By:
Representatives Cruz, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Chippendale, Sanchez,
Stewart, J. Brien, Giraldo, Felix, and Kennedy

Date Introduced:
April 02, 2026

Referred To:
House read and passed
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WHEREAS, The Second Chance Act (SCA), passed in 2008, is the largest source of
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federal funding established to break incarceration cycles and help people reenter their
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communities after jail or prison; and
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WHEREAS, The SCA has fueled significant drops in recidivism and has saved
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governments money, made and kept neighborhoods safer, and is helping people lead healthy and
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meaningful lives; and
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WHEREAS, Second Chance Month (SCM) is a nationally-recognized celebration of
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second chances, fresh starts, and breaking barriers for people who have been impacted by the
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legal system; and
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WHEREAS, Many of the statistical figures cited in relation to these issues are based on
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studies and analyses that may differ in methodology and scope, and therefore should be
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understood as estimates rather than precise or uniform measures; and
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WHEREAS, Between 70 - 100 million people in the United States have a past arrest or
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conviction record, which includes arrests that did not lead to convictions, misdemeanors, and
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felonies, but can create significant barriers to employment, housing, education, and long-term
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stability; and
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WHEREAS, A staggering 92-96 percent of employers, 90 percent of landlords, and
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approximately 66 to more than 90 percent of all types of educational institutions, utilize
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background checks, which often limits opportunities for those persons with records. In addition,

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over 42,000 state and federal restrictions impose additional obstacles, many affecting essential
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aspects of life; and
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WHEREAS, Past arrest or conviction records have resulted in nearly half of all children
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in the United States currently having at least one parent with a record; and
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WHEREAS, Millions of people with arrest or conviction records report difficulty getting
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a job and maintaining employment and they are 50 percent less likely to get a callback for a job
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interview, contributing to cycles of unemployment and poverty; and
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WHEREAS, Support for the sealing of eligible records for people who have remained
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crime-free for a period of time is:
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• A person is no more likely to commit an offense after staying crime-free for 4 to 7
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years than anyone else;
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• Studies have shown that within one year of having a record sealed, people were 11
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percent more likely to be employed and saw an over 22 percent increase in income; and
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• Over 15 million people are currently eligible for full or partial record sealing in the 12
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states, representing the full political spectrum, that have already enacted legislation to meet
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sealing of eligible records criteria; and
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WHEREAS, The purpose and vision of Second Chance Month is to no longer define a
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person only by their past record, but to provide them with a fair opportunity to work, get an
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education and a job, and reach their full potential; now, therefore be it
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RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby
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proclaims April of 2026, to be "Second Chance Month" and reinforces support and commitment
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to providing second chances; and be it further
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RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to
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transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to Meko Lincoln and Dawn Trimble, Board of
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Directors, The Formerly Incarcerated Union of Rhode Island, Cara Zimmerman, MD, MBA,
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Chairperson, Project Weber/RENEW.
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