AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE--COURTS -- SUPERIOR COURT (Establishes a separate domestic violence calendar within the superior court to handle felony domestic violence cases.)

H8547A

2026 -- H 8547 SUBSTITUTE A
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LC006413/SUB A
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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A N A C T
RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE--COURTS -- SUPERIOR COURT

Introduced By:
Representatives McEntee, Caldwell, and Craven

Date Introduced:
May 13, 2026

Referred To:
House Finance
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Chapter 8-2 of the General Laws entitled "Superior Court" is hereby amended
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by adding thereto the following section:
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8-2-15.2. Domestic violence calendar.
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(a) Establishment. There is hereby established within the Rhode Island superior court a
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separate calendar to be known as the "domestic violence calendar" for the hearing and disposition
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of domestic violence cases within the jurisdiction of the superior court.
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(b) Eligible cases. The domestic violence calendar shall include the following actions
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within the jurisdiction of the superior court:
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(1) All criminal proceedings alleging the commission of a felony offense constituting
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domestic violence, as defined in § 12-29-2;
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(2) All felony offenses involving violations of no-contact orders or protective orders arising
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from domestic violence matters;
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(3) All felony offenses involving the use, possession, or discharge of a weapon in
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connection with a domestic violence offense; and
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(4) Any other criminal proceedings arising from the same act or transaction or otherwise
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related to a domestic violence matter, as the presiding justice or the court deems appropriate for
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inclusion on the domestic violence calendar.
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(c) Assignment of personnel. The presiding justice of the superior court shall assign
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personnel to the extent warranted to hear cases on the domestic violence calendar and may provide

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for the consistent assignment of such cases in order to promote continuity of judicial oversight.
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where practicable.
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(d) Magistrate. There is hereby created within the superior court the position magistrate,
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who shall be appointed by the presiding justice of the superior court, with advice and consent of
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the senate, for a period of ten (10) years, and until a successor is appointed and qualified. Nothing
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contained herein shall be construed to prohibit the reappointment of a magistrate for one or more
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additional ten (10) year terms, subject to the advice and consent of the senate. The person appointed
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to serve as magistrate shall be a member of the bar of the State of Rhode Island. The magistrate
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shall have the duties, responsibilities, powers and benefits as authorized in § 8-2-11.1.
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(e) Priority of proceedings. Cases assigned to the domestic violence calendar shall be given
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priority in scheduling and disposition, consistent with the rights of the parties.
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(f) Concurrent jurisdiction. The "domestic violence calendar" shall have concurrent
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jurisdiction with any other calendar of the superior court to hear and decide all criminal actions
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brought pursuant to the violations of the chapters 5, 9, 29, 37, 47 and 68 of title 11 and any offense
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constituting domestic violence as provided pursuant to § 12-29-2, as long as the criminal action
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involves domestic violence as defined in § 15-15-1.
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(g) Administration. The presiding justice may adopt administrative orders, rules, and
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protocols as are necessary to implement the provisions of this section, including coordination,
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where appropriate, with the Rhode Island district court and the Rhode Island family court.
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(h) Construction. Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the authority of the
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superior court to control its calendar, assign cases, or otherwise manage its docket as provided by
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law.
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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE--COURTS -- SUPERIOR COURT
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This act would establish a separate domestic violence calendar within the superior court to
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handle felony domestic violence cases.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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LC006413/SUB A - Page 3 of 3