Representative Fascia introduces legislation to protect RI children from sex offenders

3/26/2026

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State House, Providence, RI – During the March 24th hearing in the Rhode Island House Judiciary Committee, Representative Richard Fascia, a retired Providence Police Officer, presented his bi-partisan supported bill, H8065, making it a felony for any person required to register as a sex offender to live within three hundred feet (300’) of a school as defined in RI Law § 11-37.1-2. This bill corrects a previous action by US District Court, which vacated – due to ambiguity in the law-- the statute mandating the safety zone, leaving no restrictions on Level 3 sex offenders.

H8065 creates clears up any ambiguity and agrees with the laws governing Level 1 and Level 2 sex offenders which calls for a 300-foot buffer zone. Forty states currently have residency restrictions that prevent convicted sex offenders from living near schools or locations where children congregate. A US Department of Justice study found that released sex offenders were over three times more likely to re-offend and be arrested for rape or sexual assault, and that grooming and relationship building occur in places of proximity. Fifty-nine percent of victims were acquaintances with the sex offender. The stats show that opportunities for contact and victimization grow around school grounds.

“This bill, which is co-sponsored by Senator Todd Patalano --a career law enforcement officer, is a duplicate of the South Carolina statute which was examined and survived U.S. Supreme Court scrutiny,” said Fascia. “My bill boasts 39 co-sponsors in the House, demonstrating an overwhelming degree of bi-partisan support. Clearly, it is recognized that we cannot do enough to protect our children and all members of our community from these monsters who have violated their covenant with civilized society.”

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2026 Rhode Island House Minority (Republican) Caucus Member Representative Richard Fascia, District 42 (Johnston/Cranston)

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In 1636, Roger Williams, founder of Rhode Island, established the first working model of Democracy after being banished from Massachusetts for his “extreme views” concerning freedom of speech and religion. Thomas Jefferson and John Adams publicly acknowledged Williams as the originator of these concepts, along with the freedom of public assembly, in the First Amendment in the United States Constitution. Today, Rhode Island House Republicans uphold the liberties designed by our Founders and preserved in our Constitution, and are the primary legislative body promoting lean government, fighting for lower taxes, and advocating for initiatives and policies that improve the economy and in turn, the lives of Rhode Islanders. As members of a part-time assembly, we are small business owners, retired educators, community activists, lawyers, farmers, military service veterans, volunteers, former local officials, retired social workers, coaches, musicians, churchgoers and board directors -- bringing these community engagement and professional experiences to our work, on your behalf, at the Rhode Island State House.