Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official PDF posted by the Rhode Island General Assembly, fetched 2026-07-29. Page and line markers are part of the official record; nothing is edited or removed. The official bill page.
H7894 2026 -- H 7894 ======== LC005058 ======== STATE OF RHODE ISLAND IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026 ____________ A N A C T RELATING TO EDUCATION -- ACCESS FOR CONGRESSIONALLY CHARTERED YOUTH DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS Introduced By: Representatives Casey, McNamara, Speakman, Shallcross Smith, Corvese, O Brien, Read, Biah, and Azzinaro Date Introduced: February 27, 2026 Referred To: House Education It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: 1 SECTION 1. Title 16 of the General Laws entitled EDUCATION is hereby amended by 2 adding thereto the following chapter: 3 CHAPTER 117 4 ACCESS FOR CONGRESSIONALLY CHARTERED YOUTH DEVELOPMENT 5 ORGANIZATION 6 16-117-1. Definitions. 7 For purposes of this section: 8 (1) Youth organization means any national youth development organization chartered by 9 Congress and listed in the following sections of Title 36 of the United States Code: §§30101, 30901, 10 31101, 40301, 70901, 80301, 130501, 140101, and 154101; and which: 11 (i) Serves young people under twenty-one (21) years of age; and 12 (ii) Has an educational mission that develops life skills, leadership, workforce readiness, 13 physical fitness and promotes community service, civic engagement, and patriotism. 14 16-117-2. Access to schools. 15 Upon request of a youth organization, each public school district and each public charter 16 school shall provide: 17 (1) Annual recruitment opportunity. At least one opportunity per school year for 18 representatives of the youth organization to provide displays, brochures, flyers, on school property 1 and the use of other existing digital communication channels for the purpose of student recruitment. 2 (2) Classroom presentation. A scheduled date and time allowing representatives of the 3 youth organization to speak with students for up to ten (10) consecutive minutes during classroom 4 time and provide informational materials; provided that: 5 (i) The presentation does not occur during instruction in a core curriculum subject; and 6 (ii) School operations and instructional time are not materially disrupted. 7 (3) Parent/guardian notification. Advance notice to parents or guardians describing: 8 (i) The scheduled presentation; and 9 (ii) The right of any parent or guardian to withhold consent for their child’s participation. 10 16-117-3. Equal access not required for non-qualifying groups. 11 A school district or charter school shall not be required to provide the access described in 12 § 16-117-2 to any entity not meeting the definition of a youth organization under § 16-117-1. 13 16-117-4. Construction. 14 Nothing in this section shall be construed to: 15 (1) Interfere with school safety policies; 16 (2) Authorize youth organizations to conduct activities inconsistent with school rules; or 17 (3) Limit the authority of school administrators to maintain order or discipline. 18 SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. ======== LC005058 ======== LC005058 - Page 2 of 3 EXPLANATION BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF A N A C T RELATING TO EDUCATION -- ACCESS FOR CONGRESSIONALLY CHARTERED YOUTH DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS *** 1 This act would require public schools to give congressionally chartered youth organizations 2 limited access for recruitment and brief student presentations with parent notice, while preserving 3 school safety and discretion. 4 This act would take effect upon passage. ======== LC005058 ======== LC005058 - Page 3 of 3
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