WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

HB 5893

AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- SEXUAL ASSAULT

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Edith Ajello and 6 co-sponsors

Rhode Island requires electronic, monthly submission of DV/SA incident data by law enforcement, expanding data collected to improve tracking and analysis.

06/11/2025 Referred to Senate Judiciary
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 5893

Summary — HB 5893

Title: AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES — SEXUAL ASSAULT
Bill No.: HB 5893
Introduced: February 28, 2025 (Rep. McEntee and others)
Statute Amended: R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-37-13.3
Status (as provided): Passed House 05/29/2025; Referred to Senate Judiciary 06/11/2025
Effective date: Upon passage

Purpose

The bill updates Rhode Island’s statutory requirements for reporting sexual-assault and child-molestation incidents to improve data accuracy, timeliness, and centralized tracking. It requires electronic submission of domestic violence/sexual assault reporting forms and expands the information that must be collected for monitoring and analysis.

Key provisions

  • Requires a responding or investigating law enforcement officer, once probable cause for arrest or referral to the attorney general is determined, to complete the domestic violence/sexual assault reporting form (DV/SA-1).
  • Directs the domestic violence training and monitoring unit within the Administrative Office of State Courts (AOSC) to prescribe the reporting form and electronic submission process.
  • Specifies required data elements on the form to include (but not limited to):
    • Names, relationships, sexes, and dates of birth of parties;
    • Time and date of the alleged incident;
    • Whether children were involved or present;
    • Type and extent of alleged abuse;
    • Number and types of alleged weapons;
    • Existence of prior court orders;
    • Existence of language barriers;
    • Any additional data necessary for analysis.
  • Establishes submission timing:
    • Law enforcement agencies must electronically submit the reporting form and corresponding police narratives to the unit at the end of each month.
    • For incidents still under investigation or with unexecuted arrest warrants, the form and narratives must be submitted as soon as practicable but no later than the end of the calendar year in which the incident occurred.
  • Requires the domestic violence training and monitoring unit to expunge a report upon adjudication of acquittal, dismissal, or other exoneration.

Who is affected

  • Law enforcement agencies across Rhode Island (new electronic filing and monthly reporting duties).
  • The domestic violence training and monitoring unit / AOSC (responsible for prescribing the form/process, receiving, analyzing data, and expunging records when required).
  • Prosecutors/Attorney General’s Office (data used for referrals and oversight).
  • Indirectly affected: victims and defendants (through data collection, case-tracking, and expungement protections for exonerated individuals).

Procedural / timeline notes

  • The bill takes effect upon passage.
  • House passage occurred 05/29/2025; referred to Senate Judiciary on 06/11/2025 for further consideration.

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Intended to improve statewide data on sexual-assault arrests and department compliance.
  • Likely to increase administrative and IT workload for law enforcement agencies to implement electronic submission and ensure timely monthly reporting.
  • May raise privacy and security considerations given centralized electronic storage of sensitive incident data; the bill includes an expungement mechanism for exonerated cases but does not specify technical data-protection requirements.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.