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SR 2940

SENATE RESOLUTION CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY AND PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR JUVENILE HEARING BOARDS

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Jonathon Acosta and 9 co-sponsors

Creates a cross-sector commission to study and recommend statewide improvements to Rhode Island Juvenile Hearing Boards, guiding potential legal reforms.

06/11/2026 Senate passed Sub A as amended (floor amendment)
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Bill Summary · SR 2940

Summary of Bill: SR 2940 (Rhode Island, 2026)

What the bill does

  • Creates a special legislative commission to study and make recommendations regarding Juvenile Hearing Boards in Rhode Island.
  • The commission will evaluate current practices of state and municipal Juvenile Hearing Boards established under Rhode Island law, identify best practices, assess statewide coordination and training, examine data collection and reporting standards, and provide legislative recommendations.

Purpose and intent

  • To improve the functioning, consistency, and effectiveness of Juvenile Hearing Boards across the state.
  • To inform potential state-law revisions by delivering findings and concrete recommendations to the Senate.

Key provisions and changes

  • Membership (composition, 17–19 members):
    • Ex officio/designee seats:
    • Chief Judge of the Family Court (or designee)
    • Director of the Department of Children, Youth & Families (or designee)
    • Attorney General (or designee)
    • Public Defender (or designee)
    • Legislative and agency representation:
    • Four Senate members (with at least one from the minority party, appointed by the President of the Senate)
    • Executive Director roles or designees from:
      • Rhode Island Police Chiefs Association
      • Child Advocate
      • Rhode Island Kids Count
      • Rhode Island Community Justice
      • League of Cities and Towns
    • Practitioner/operational input:
    • Between three (3) and five (5) current Juvenile Hearing Board members (preferably from Central Falls, Pawtucket, Cranston, or Providence), appointed by the President of the Senate
    • One representative from SEIU Local #580 (appointed by SEIU Local #580 president)
  • Functions and scope:
    • Study current practices of Juvenile Hearing Boards established under §§ 8-10-23.1 or 8-10-23.2.
    • Identify best practices and evaluate statewide coordination and board member training opportunities.
    • Examine data collection methods and reporting standards.
    • Develop recommendations for revisions to state law to improve Juvenile Hearing Boards.
  • Operations and deadlines:
    • Initial meetings to begin in October 2026; chairperson to be selected by the commission.
    • Meetings to be organized promptly after passage; vacancies filled as original appointments.
    • No compensation for commission members.
    • State departments and agencies must provide necessary information and support.
    • The Senate President to provide suitable meeting quarters.
    • Report due to the Senate by November 30, 2027.
    • Commission expires on December 31, 2027.

Who would be affected

  • Juvenile Hearing Boards and their operations statewide.
  • State and municipal agencies connected to juvenile justice (Family Court, DCYF, Attorney General, Public Defender, etc.).
  • Stakeholders and organizations involved in youth services, advocacy, and policy (e.g., RI Kids Count, Child Advocate, League of Cities and Towns, SEIU Local 580, Rhode Island Police Chiefs Association).
  • The broader public, through potential future state-law revisions resulting from commission recommendations.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Status: Introduced March 4, 2026; referred to Senate Judiciary.
  • Committee action: Substantive committee process leading to passage of a substitute (Sub A) with a favorable recommendation on June 9, 2026.
  • Structure: A nineteen-member commission (per the substitute), operating with directed timelines and a clear reporting obligation.
  • Reporting and expiration: Final recommendations due by November 30, 2027; commission expires December 31, 2027.
  • Budget/compensation: Members do not receive compensation; staff and facilities provided as needed by the Senate President.

Practical implications

  • The bill creates an organized, cross-sector body to assess how Juvenile Hearing Boards operate and how they can be improved.
  • If recommendations lead to changes in state law, reforms could impact training, data collection, inter-agency coordination, and consistency of juvenile hearings across cities and towns.
  • The involvement of diverse stakeholders aims to balance judicial, law enforcement, child welfare, advocacy, and community perspectives.

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

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