SENATE RESOLUTION CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY AND ASSESS EDUCATION MODULES FOR DIVORCING PARENTS (Creates a nine (9) member commission to the study and assess the most effective module for divorcing parents, and would report back by January 27, 2026, and expire on March 27, 2026.)
S0360 is a Senate resolution that creates a nine-member special legislative commission to study and assess education modules for divorcing parents. The commission is tasked with researching available programs in Rhode Island, the New England region, and nationally, including academic and peer-reviewed research on whether such modules improve co-parenting, communication, and collaboration during and after divorce.
The commission must evaluate different formats and approaches, such as online modules, prerecorded videos, in-person classes, seminars, and workshops, and consider how effective each may be for divorcing couples with low, medium, and high levels of conflict. It is also directed to examine supplemental programming for children and families, and to make recommendations on how Rhode Island could develop a stronger marketplace of effective educational offerings for divorcing parents. The commission would report its findings to the Senate by January 27, 2026, and expire on March 27, 2026.
This resolution does not amend substantive state law or create a new regulatory mandate; instead, it establishes a temporary legislative study commission. Its practical impact is to direct state resources and agency cooperation toward gathering information and recommendations about divorce-related parenting education, which could later inform future legislation, court-related policy, or public/private program development. The resolution also authorizes state departments and agencies to provide information and support to the commission and requires legislative services to provide meeting space.
The bill appears generally favorable and policy-oriented, with its findings emphasizing the harms of poor co-parenting and the benefits of effective communication after divorce. The resolution frames the issue as a public health, educational, and family stability concern, suggesting broad support for exploring solutions rather than imposing immediate requirements. No committee transcript or vote record is provided, so there is no evidence of recorded opposition or debate in the available materials.
The main policy question embedded in the resolution is not whether divorcing parents should receive education, but what kind of education is most effective and whether Rhode Island should develop or expand a marketplace for such programs. Potential points of contention could include the value of state involvement in family education, the cost and usefulness of a study commission, and whether the state should favor public, private, online, or in-person models. The commission’s composition, which includes legislators and several professionals such as therapists, psychologists, and a family law attorney, suggests an effort to balance legal, clinical, and practical perspectives.