AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- STATE CRIME LABORATORY COMMISSION (Increases number of members of state crime laboratory commission to 9, changes makeup of commission to include individuals with expertise in law enforcement, criminal defense, scientific research, makes chair of department of physics executive secretary.)

S2287

2026 -- S 2287
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LC004020
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
____________
A N A C T
RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- STATE CRIME LABORATORY
COMMISSION

Introduced By:
Senators Bell, Murray, Thompson, Gu, Ujifusa, Quezada, Valverde,
Acosta, Vargas, and DiMario

Date Introduced:
January 23, 2026

Referred To:
Senate Judiciary
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Sections 12-1.1-4 and 12-1.1-6 of the General Laws in Chapter 12-1.1 entitled
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"State Crime Laboratory Commission" are hereby amended to read as follows:
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12-1.1-4. Membership.
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(a) The commission shall consist of
five (5)

nine (9)
members
: the attorney general; the
5
superintendent of state police; and a representative of the Rhode Island Police Chiefs Association
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appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate
; and two (2) public members
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appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate
: three (3) members with
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expertise in law enforcement or criminal prosecution; three (3) members with expertise in criminal
9
defense; and three (3) members with expertise in scientific research
. Appointed public members
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shall serve two (2) year terms and shall be eligible to succeed themselves.
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(b) Members shall serve until their successors are appointed and qualified. Each member
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of the board may designate a subordinate within his or her department or agency to represent him
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or her at all meetings of the board.
Three (3)

Five (5)
members of the board shall constitute a
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quorum
,
and the vote of a majority of those present and voting shall be required for action.
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(c) Members of the commission shall be removable by the governor pursuant to the
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provisions of § 36-1-7 of the general laws and for cause only, and removal solely for partisan or
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personal reasons unrelated to capacity or fitness for the office shall be unlawful.
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12-1.1-6. Executive secretary.

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The
dean of the College of Pharmacy

chair of the Department of Physics
at the University
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of Rhode Island shall serve as the executive secretary of the commission. The executive secretary
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shall oversee the administration of the state crime laboratory, including all budgetary and personnel
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matters, and shall provide timely reports to the commission regarding all matters pertaining to the
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state crime laboratory.
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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 CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- STATE CRIME LABORATORY
COMMISSION
***
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This act would increase the number of members of the state crime laboratory commission
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from five (5) to nine (9), change the makeup of the commission to include individuals with expertise
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in law enforcement, expertise in criminal defense, and expertise in scientific research. It would also
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make the chair of the department of physics at the University of Rhode Island the executive
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secretary.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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