H 8207Funding & Budget

Making an Appropriation of $100,000 for the Rhode Island Commission on Prejudice & Bias

Appropriates $100,000 to the Rhode Island Commission on Prejudice and Bias for the 2026-2027 fiscal year to support its operations and training.

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Introduced Feb 27, 2026Committee House Finance

Plain-English Summary

This joint resolution appropriates $100,000 from the state treasury to fund the Rhode Island Commission on Prejudice and Bias for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The funds will be distributed through the commission's designated fiscal agent, the Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

The Rhode Island Commission on Prejudice and Bias was established by the state legislature in 1981 to study all forms of prejudice, bias, and hatred, and to advise on related laws and policies. The seventeen-member commission includes state legislators, community leaders, and law enforcement representatives. It plays a critical role in providing mandated hate crime training for all law enforcement academies in the state, as well as ongoing education for current officers, victim advocates, and community groups. Additionally, the commission receives reports of hate crimes, directs victims to resources, and advises police departments and the Attorney General's office.

Historically, the commission has relied on federal and state grants, such as those from the Victims of Crime Act and the U.S. Bureau of Justice Assistance. However, the resolution notes that these funding streams have diminished and are no longer sufficient to support the commission's expanding scope of work. This $100,000 appropriation is intended to bridge that funding gap, ensuring the commission has the necessary resources to continue its statutory duties, facilitate trust-building between law enforcement and communities, and combat bigotry across Rhode Island.

For younger readers

This bill gives $100,000 to a state group called the Commission on Prejudice and Bias. This group helps train police officers and studies ways to stop hate and unfair treatment in Rhode Island. The money will help them keep doing their important work since their old funding ran out.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups

Law enforcement officers and academiesVictims of hate crimesRhode Island Commission on Prejudice and Bias membersRhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

Low. This is a standard legislative appropriation of funds to an existing, statutorily created state commission.

Estimated cost

$100,000

Estimated revenue

Not specified

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints

For Progressives

Provides necessary funding to combat bigotry, prejudice, and hate crimes in Rhode Island.
Ensures law enforcement officers continue to receive mandated, specialized training on how to handle hate crimes.
Supports a commission that connects victims of hate crimes with vital resources and advocates.
Some progressives might prefer anti-bias funding to go directly to grassroots community organizations rather than a state commission.
$100,000 may be viewed as an insufficient amount to adequately address systemic prejudice and bias statewide.
The commission's heavy integration with law enforcement might be viewed skeptically by advocates pushing for non-police responses to community issues.

For Conservatives

Supports law enforcement by funding the academies and ongoing training they need to effectively do their jobs.
The commission includes law enforcement representatives, ensuring police perspectives are included in state anti-bias policies.
Addresses a specific funding shortfall caused by the loss of federal grants, maintaining an existing statutory body rather than creating a new one.
Increases state spending by $100,000 from the general treasury.
Some conservatives may view the commission's focus on bias and prejudice as unnecessary or overly focused on identity politics.
May argue that the commission should find alternative grant funding rather than relying on state taxpayer dollars.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

WHEREAS, The Rhode Island legislature established the Commission on Prejudice and Bias (the commission) in 1981, in order to study all forms of prejudice, bias, or hatred in this State and to revise and codify, if possible, all laws relating to all forms of prejudice, bias, or hatred; and

WHEREAS, This diverse seventeen (17) member commission is dedicated to tackling the persistent issues of bigotry in Rhode Island and includes State legislators, gubernatorial appointed community leaders, Attorney General-appointed members, and law enforcement representatives; and

WHEREAS, The commission is a prominent and necessary channel of communication, collaboration, trust-building and understanding between legislators, law enforcement, and the communities they are sworn to serve and protect; and

WHEREAS, The commission provides hate crime training mandated by Rhode Island General Law § 42-28.2-8.1 for all law enforcement academies; and

WHEREAS, The commission provides hate crime training and education to current law enforcement, victim’s advocates, and community groups pursuant to Rhode Island General Law § 42-28-46; and

WHEREAS, The commission receives reports of hate crimes and incidents from Rhode Islanders and directs victims to resources whenever possible, while advising police departments and the Office of the Attorney General where appropriate; and

WHEREAS, The commission provides invaluable guidance to the Governor, Attorney General, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Senate President on critical laws and policies related to prejudice and bias; and

WHEREAS, The commission has operated successfully through grants from the Victims of Crime Act, the United States Bureau of Justice Assistance, and the Rhode Island Department of Administration; and

WHEREAS, The scope of work has expanded over the decades and the funding streams once relied on no longer enable the execution of the commission’s mission statement; and

WHEREAS, Despite its proven success, the commission's operations have been hindered by diminishing Federal and State funding sources, such as grants from the Victims of Crime Act, the U.S. Bureau of Justice Assistance, and the Rhode Island Department of Administration, which are no longer sufficient to meet the demands of reporting and studying all forms of prejudice and hatred in Rhode Island; and

WHEREAS, The commission serves on behalf of all Rhode Islanders, is a statutorily created body, and the thorough execution of its duties and responsibilities is only possible with the appropriate level of resources; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That there is hereby appropriated, out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated for the fiscal year 2026-2027, the sum of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) to be distributed to the Rhode Island Commission on Prejudice and Bias via its fiscal agent the RI Coalition Against Domestic Violence; and the state controller is hereby authorized and directed to draw their orders upon the general treasurer for the payment of said sum, upon receipt of properly authenticated vouchers. EXPLANATION BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF JOINTRESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $100,0 FOR THE RHODE ISLAND COMMISSION ON PREJUDICE & BIAS *** This resolution would appropriate the sum of $100,000 to the Rhode Island Commission on Prejudice and Bias.