JOINT RESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $100,000 FOR THE RHODE ISLAND COMMISSION ON PREJUDICE & BIAS (This resolution would appropriate the sum of $100,000 to the Rhode Island Commission on Prejudice and Bias.)

S2236

2026 -- S 2236
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LC004194
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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J O I N T R E S O L U T I O N
MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $100,000 FOR THE RHODE ISLAND COMMISSION
ON PREJUDICE & BIAS

Introduced By:
Senators Mack, Paolino, and Acosta

Date Introduced:
January 23, 2026

Referred To:
Senate Finance
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WHEREAS, The Rhode Island legislature established the Commission on Prejudice and
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Bias (the commission) in 1981, in order to study all forms of prejudice, bias, or hatred in this
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State and to revise and codify, if possible, all laws relating to all forms of prejudice, bias, or
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hatred; and
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WHEREAS, This diverse seventeen (17) member commission is dedicated to tackling the
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persistent issues of bigotry in Rhode Island and includes State legislators, gubernatorial appointed
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community leaders, Attorney General-appointed members, and law enforcement representatives;
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and
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WHEREAS, The commission is a prominent and necessary channel of communication,
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collaboration, trust-building and understanding between legislators, law enforcement, and the
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communities they are sworn to serve and protect; and
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WHEREAS, The commission provides hate crime training mandated by Rhode Island
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General Law § 42-28.2-8.1 for all law enforcement academies; and
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WHEREAS, The commission provides hate crime training and education to current law
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enforcement, victim’s advocates, and community groups pursuant to Rhode Island General Law §
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42-28-46; and
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WHEREAS, The commission receives reports of hate crimes and incidents from Rhode
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Islanders and directs victims to resources whenever possible, while advising police departments
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and the Office of the Attorney General where appropriate; and

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WHEREAS, The commission provides invaluable guidance to the Governor, Attorney
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General, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Senate President on critical laws and
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policies related to prejudice and bias; and
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WHEREAS, The commission has operated successfully through grants from the Victims
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of Crime Act, the United States Bureau of Justice Assistance, and the Rhode Island Department
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of Administration; and
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WHEREAS, The scope of work has expanded over the decades and the funding streams
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once relied on no longer enable the execution of the commission’s mission statement; and
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WHEREAS, Despite its proven success, the commission's operations have been hindered
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by diminishing Federal and State funding sources, such as grants from the Victims of Crime Act,
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the U.S. Bureau of Justice Assistance, and the Rhode Island Department of Administration, which
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are no longer sufficient to meet the demands of reporting and studying all forms of prejudice and
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hatred in Rhode Island; and
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WHEREAS, The commission serves on behalf of all Rhode Islanders, is a statutorily
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created body, and the thorough execution of its duties and responsibilities is only possible with
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the appropriate level of resources; now, therefore be it
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RESOLVED, That there is hereby appropriated, out of any money in the treasury not
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otherwise appropriated for the fiscal year 2026-2027, the sum of one hundred thousand dollars
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($100,000) to be distributed to the Rhode Island Commission on Prejudice and Bias via its fiscal
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agent the RI Coalition Against Domestic Violence; and the state controller is hereby authorized
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and directed to draw their orders upon the general treasurer for the payment of said sum, upon
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receipt of properly authenticated vouchers.
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LC004194
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
J O I N T R E S O L U T I O N
MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $100,000 FOR THE RHODE ISLAND COMMISSION
ON PREJUDICE & BIAS
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This resolution would appropriate the sum of $100,000 to the Rhode Island Commission
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on Prejudice and Bias.
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LC004194
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