Raymond Hull (politician)


Raymond A. Hull is an American politician and a Democratic member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives representing District 6 since January 2011. During the legislative session beginning in 2015, Hull was one of three African-American members of the Rhode Island House of Representatives.

Education

Hull attended the University of Rhode Island, earned his BA in criminal justice from Roger Williams University, and earned his MA in administration of justice from Anna Maria College.

2020 Legislation

In February 2020, Hull introduced a bill to create a DCYF legislative oversight commission in honor of longtime DCYF reform advocate Nicholas Alahverdian. Hull told The Providence Journal that "I’ve known Nick since he was a young kid, and now he’s sick. I’m delighted to put this in because we have seen so much turmoil at DCYF over the last couple of years." Hull was referring to Alahverdian's cancer diagnosis earlier in 2020.
WPRI reported that the bill would permit "The speaker of the House to appoint nine state representatives to the commission, and they would investigate any unconstitutional or unethical procedures at DCYF that put children in harm’s way. A report would be due from the commission next May."
During the interview with the Journal, Nicholas Alahverdian said, "an oversight commission would give legislators the authority, power and privilege to investigate DCYF in a way that has never been before." Co-sponsors of the bill included Reps. John J. Lombardi, David Bennett, and James N. McLaughlin. In an interview with WPRI about the proposed legislation, Alahverdian said “The policy of this bill is the safety of children at every cost. The aim of this bill is adequate education and housing for children in the care of the state. People may ask at what cost. We say at any cost, for the life of a child in a system with a $220 million budget deserves at the very least food, schooling and stable shelter, and if possible, a family life. We must never give up, and I certainly won’t.”

Elections