This is a copy of a letter addressed to Rep. John G. Edwards (D-Dist 70-Portsmouth, Tiverton).

To the editor:

Dear Rep. Edwards,

Please support the passage of H-5374, which you have sponsored in the House of Representatives, and bring that bill to the floor for a vote of approval before the fall session ends.

The Portsmouth Prevention Coalition and our two Portsmouth elected bodies, the School Committee and Council, have been effective in discouraging drug use in our schools. We in the Portsmouth Concerned Citizens have strongly supported these three key organizations in this effort, but the state must do its part in funding. 

We are very concerned that there are zero state dollars that go toward supporting the community prevention coalitions, only pass-through federal monies.

The best solution to the opioid crisis lies in prevention and this bill will direct state funding for prevention and student assistance programs, in that it calls for the correction of mistakes in the original Title 16 legislation, like an incorrect reference to the schedule of traffic fines where the fess that were supposed to be collected by RITT (Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal) never were. 

The purpose of this bill is to correct those errors so RITT can begin collecting the fees as intended. This legislation to restore the traffic violation fee of $30 back to funding the community coalitions and student assistance as it was originally written in 1987, as well as directed juvenile fines for marijuana possession, levied by the Traffic Tribunal, will support these much-needed community substance abuse prevention activities and direction.

This bill has been introduced and passed through committee and approved by the State Senate and was introduced to the House by you, Rep. Edwards, but it is being held for further study in committee and it must come to the floor of the House by Sept. 19 or it will not be voted on and not be enacted.

As advocates for substance abuse prevention in Portsmouth, and strong supporters of those who are doing this important work, we urge you to pass your bill to the House floor for a vote of approval to support prevention coalition work in the community as the law was written.

Thank you very much for your service to our community prevention efforts and most of all, to our youth in Portsmouth.

We are counting on you, Rep. Edwards, to champion this support as its sponsor and the representative of District 70.

Sincerely,

Larry Fitzmorris

President, Portsmouth Concerned Citizens

50 Kristen Court

Portsmouth