The bills (2009-H 7006, 2009-S 2003), which the two chambers will now exchange for final consideration, would rename the Cranston facility that houses juvenile offenders the Thomas C. Slater Training School.
The bills sponsors, House Finance Committee Chairman Steven M. Costantino (D-Dist. 8, Providence) and Sen. Juan M. Pichardo (D-Dist. 2, Providence), said naming the facility after Representative Slater, who died of cancer at age 68 in August after serving 15 years in the House of Representatives, would be a fitting tribute to a man who fervently advocated for the schools completion and made sure it was properly equipped for the population it serves.
There has not been a stronger advocate in the General Assembly for children than Tom Slater. He vigorously demanded that children under the care of the State of Rhode Island have a safe environment that has the type of services they need so they can lead productive lives, said Chairman Costantino, who served alongside Representative Slater on the House Finance Committee for seven years. The old facility was inadequate and unsafe to both the residents and the community, and it was Toms tireless efforts in overseeing the development of the new facility that made it come to fruition.
Representative Slater, as chairman of the House Finance Committees Human Services Subcommittee, was very involved in the creation of the new training school, from ensuring state money was allocated for its construction to checking on it frequently while it was being built to make sure it would meet the needs of those who would use it.
During all of his years in the House, Representative Slater was known for passionately advocating for the needs of the poor, the downtrodden, the sick and the forgotten in Rhode Island. His son, Scott Slater, won a special election to serve the rest of his term representing District 10 in Providence this year.