Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

2023 -- S 0539
     ========
     LC001963
     ========
                       S TATE             OF        RHODE                IS L A N D
                                         IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
                                      JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023
                                            ____________
                                         JOINT RESOLUTION
        MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO ESTABLISH A COMMISSION TO PROVIDE
       DIRECTION AND PROPOSALS FOR LEGISLATION, METRICS, AND PROGRESS IN
                  REDUCING RACIAL DISPARITY IN INCARCERATION
                 Introduced By: Senators Mack, Britto, Acosta, Euer, McKenney, Kallman, LaMountain,
                                 Bell, and Gu
                 Date Introduced: March 07, 2023
                 Referred To: Senate Finance
     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
1            RESOLVED, That there is hereby appropriated out of any money in the treasury not
2    otherwise appropriated for fiscal year 2023-2024, a sum sufficient to establish a commission
3    composed of persons from diverse racial backgrounds and cultures and who were formerly
4    incarcerated in the State of Rhode Island. The purpose of this commission shall be to provide
5    direction and proposals for legislation, metrics, and progress in reducing racial disparity in the
6    number of individuals who are subject to incarceration in this state, including, but not limited to,
7    those persons incarcerated by the department of correction.        The state controller is hereby
8    authorized and directed to draw orders upon the general treasurer for the payment of said sum, or
9    so much thereof as maybe from time to time required, upon receipt of properly authenticated
10   vouchers.
     ========
     LC001963
     ========
                                             EXPLANATION
                                  BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
                                                    OF
                                        JOINT RESOLUTION
       MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO ESTABLISH A COMMISSION TO PROVIDE
      DIRECTION AND PROPOSALS FOR LEGISLATION, METRICS, AND PROGRESS IN
                 REDUCING RACIAL DISPARITY IN INCARCERATION
                                                    ***
1           This joint resolution would authorize the appropriation of a sum that is sufficient to
2   establish a commission composed of persons from diverse racial backgrounds and cultures and who
3   were formerly incarcerated in the State of Rhode Island. The purpose of this commission would
4   be to provide direction and proposals for legislation, metrics, and progress in reducing racial
5   disparity in the number of individuals who are subject to incarceration in this state, including, but
6   not limited to, those persons incarcerated by the department of correction.
    ========
    LC001963
    ========
                                          LC001963 - Page 2 of 2