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HR 8503

HOUSE RESOLUTION CREATING A HOUSE LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY-BASED SOLUTIONS TO REDUCE THE INCARCERATION OF WOMEN

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Edith Ajello and 9 co-sponsors

Establishes a 15-member commission to expand community-based alternatives to incarceration for women, focusing on housing, recovery supports, diversion, and safety.

05/14/2026 Committee recommended measure be held for further study
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Bill Summary · HR 8503

Summary of Bill HR 8503 (Rhode Island, 2026)

Title

HOUSE RESOLUTION CREATING A HOUSE LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY-BASED SOLUTIONS TO REDUCE THE INCARCERATION OF WOMEN

Purpose and Intent

  • Establish a special legislative commission to study and promote community-based alternatives to incarceration for women in Rhode Island.
  • Focus on improving public safety while reducing unnecessary imprisonment through coordinated public health, housing, and recovery services.
  • Leverage existing and emerging programs (e.g., diversion, reentry, housing stabilization, recovery supports) and evaluate their outcomes.
  • Consider innovative medical treatments (including GLP-1 medications and other emerging therapies) as part of recovery and relapse-prevention efforts.

Key Provisions

Creation and Composition

  • The commission is a temporary body consisting of 15 members.
  • Appointments include a mix of legislative, executive, judicial, and public stakeholders:
    • A House member (appointed by the Speaker)
    • A representative of the Governor
    • A representative of the Judicial Branch (Chief Justice)
    • Director of the Rhode Island Department of Corrections (DOC) or designee
    • Secretary of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) or designee
    • Director of the Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals (BHDDH) or designee
    • Rhode Island Public Defender or designee
    • Rhode Island Attorney General or designee
    • Chair of the Rhode Island Parole Board or designee
    • Director of the Executive Office of Housing or designee
    • A representative from OpenDoors (reentry services)
    • A formerly incarcerated woman with reentry or recovery experience
    • A representative from the People, Places & Health Collective (Brown University School of Public Health)
    • A representative from the Center for Addiction Science, Policy and Research (CASPR)
    • A representative from the Governor's Advisory Council on Housing and Homelessness
  • If a legislative member is not appointed, a public member may be substituted with consent of party leadership.

Purpose and Activities

  • Review existing programs and policies related to:
    • Diversion
    • Reentry
    • Housing stabilization
    • Recovery services for women involved in the criminal justice system
  • Identify opportunities to expand and strengthen community-based alternatives to incarceration that improve long-term outcomes and reduce recidivism.
  • Support implementation and evaluation of Department of Justice Second Chance Act initiatives, including the OpenDoors reentry and diversion trial in Rhode Island.
  • Examine the role of innovative medical treatments and recovery supports (notably GLP-1 medications and other emerging treatments) in improving outcomes for justice-involved women.
  • Review best practices from other states and national research on effective interventions for women in the criminal justice system.
  • Make policy, funding, and programmatic recommendations to improve outcomes for women and their families while strengthening public safety.

Operations and Timeline

  • The commission must meet, organize, and elect a chair promptly after passage.
  • Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as original appointments.
  • Members serve without compensation.
  • The commission exists for approximately two years from formation.
  • State departments and agencies must provide necessary information and support.

Reporting

  • The commission must report its findings and recommendations to the Rhode Island House of Representatives no later than April 28, 2028.
  • Interim reports may be issued before the final report.
  • The commission expires on May 30, 2028.

Targeted Impacts

Who/What is Affected

  • Women who are currently or formerly involved in the criminal justice system in Rhode Island.
  • State agencies and offices involved in corrections, health and human services, housing, behavioral health, public defender services, and the judiciary.
  • Community-based organizations and research partners involved in reentry and recovery initiatives.
  • Communities affected by incarceration and recidivism dynamics.

Expected Outcomes

  • More robust, coordinated community-based solutions to reduce women’s incarceration.
  • Expanded access to diversion, housing stability, addiction treatment, and recovery supports.
  • Improved long-term outcomes for women and their families, potentially reducing recidivism and enhancing public safety.
  • Evaluation and potential scaling of evidence-based programs funded under the Second Chance Act and related initiatives.

Notable Details

  • No funding amounts are specified in the resolution itself; the focus is on establishing the commission and its scope.
  • The resolution explicitly contemplates the potential use of GLP-1 class medications and other emerging treatments as part of recovery strategies.
  • The commission is designed to foster collaboration across multiple branches of government, as well as community and academic partners.

If you’d like, I can provide a side-by-side comparison with current Rhode Island policies on women in the criminal justice system or outline potential budget considerations and evaluation metrics the commission might propose.

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

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