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H8610
2026 -- H 8610
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LC006559
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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
CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF AN OFFICE OF THE ELDER ADVOCATE
Introduced By:
Representatives Shallcross Smith, Serpa, Read, Fellela, Casimiro,
Handy, J. Lombardi, Casey, Hull, and Fogarty
Date Introduced:
June 03, 2026
Referred To:
House State Government & Elections
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WHEREAS, More than 240,000 Rhode Island residents are age sixty (60) years or older,
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and that number is projected to continue to grow significantly in the coming years, increasing the
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demand for coordinated, accessible, and effective advocacy and services for older adults; and
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WHEREAS, Older adults in Rhode Island encounter issues involving age discrimination,
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financial exploitation, housing, access to benefits, guardianship, health care, and other service
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gaps that may not be fully addressed through existing systems; and
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WHEREAS, The General Assembly finds that it is in the public interest to study the
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need, feasibility, and operational requirements for establishing an Office of the Elder Advocate to
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promote and protect the rights, dignity, and well-being of older adults in Rhode Island; now,
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therefore be it
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RESOLVED, That a special legislative commission be and the same is hereby created
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consisting of thirteen (13) members, including members and/or designees with legal, government,
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and consumer backgrounds, to study the need for the establishment of an Office of the Elder
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Advocate in Rhode Island, as follows:
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Three (3) of whom shall be members of the Rhode Island House of Representatives, not
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more than two (2) from the same political party, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; one
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of whom shall be a representative from the Rhode Island Bar Association with experience in elder
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law, guardianship, or related legal matters, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; one of
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whom shall be the Dean of the Roger Williams University School of Law, or designee; one of
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whom shall be a representative of the RI Office of Attorney General with experience in consumer
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protection, disability rights or Medicaid/ Medicare fraud issues, to be appointed by the Attorney
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General; one of whom shall be the Executive Director of the RI Chapter of the AARP, or
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designee; one of whom shall be the Executive Director of the Senior Agenda Coalition of RI, or
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designee; one of whom shall be the RI Long-Term Care Ombudsman, or designee; one of whom
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shall be a representative of a long-term care or aging services provider, to be appointed by the
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Speaker of the House; two (2) of whom shall be Rhode Island residents age sixty (60) years or
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older, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; and one of whom shall be a representative of
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the RI League of Cities and Towns, or designee.
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In lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to a commission created by this
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resolution, the appointing authority may appoint a member of the general public to serve in lieu
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of a legislator.
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The purpose of said commission shall be to make a comprehensive study and provide
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recommendations regarding the need, feasibility, structure, powers, funding, staffing, and
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statutory framework for the establishment of an Office of the Elder Advocate including, but not
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limited to:
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Examining the scope of unmet needs for legal assistance of older adults in Rhode Island;
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Reviewing existing state, federal, and local advocacy and complaint-resolution systems
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serving older adults;
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Guardianship and probate issues;
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Assessing existing state agencies authority, autonomy, capacity, and independence to
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address systemic legal concerns affecting older adults;
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Recommending the appropriate duties, powers, jurisdiction, staffing, reporting
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requirements and resource needs of an Office of the Elder Advocate;
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Examine by models from other states/territories or jurisdictions; and
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Provide by recommendations regarding legislation necessary to establish the Office, if
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appropriate.
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Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall meet at
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the call of the Speaker of the House and organize and elect a chairperson from among the
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legislative members. Vacancies in said commission shall be filled in like manner as the original
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appointment. The membership of said commission shall receive no compensation for their
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services.
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All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such advice and information,
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documentary and otherwise, to said commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or
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desirable by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this resolution.
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The Speaker of the House is hereby authorized and directed to provide suitable quarters
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for said commission; and be it further
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RESOLVED, That the commission shall report its findings and recommendations to the
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House of Representatives no later than March 15, 2027, and said commission shall expire on June
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15, 2027.
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N
CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF AN OFFICE OF THE ELDER ADVOCATE
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This resolution would create a special legislative commission to study and provide
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recommendations relating to the establishment of an office of the elder advocate. The commission
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would report its findings and recommendations to the House of Representatives by March 15,
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2027, and would expire on June 15, 2027.
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