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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
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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
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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
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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
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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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