2012 -- H 8040

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LC02357

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2012

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H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY THE FISCAL

CIRCUMSTANCES, PROCEDURES, AND MECHANISMS UTILIZED BY THE STATE IN

DETERMINING AND IMPLEMENTING VARYING LEVELS OF SUPPORT AND

CONTROL OF THE CITY OF WOONSOCKET

     Introduced By: Representatives Baldelli-Hunt, Brien, and Phillips

     Date Introduced: April 04, 2012

     Referred To: House Finance

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     RESOLVED, That a special legislative commission be and the same is hereby created

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consisting of nine (9) members: three (3) of whom shall be members of the Rhode Island House

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of Representatives, at least two (2) of whom shall be Representatives from the City of

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Woonsocket, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be the Auditor

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General, or designee; one of whom shall be the Director of Revenue for the State of Rhode

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Island, or designee; one of whom shall be the Executive Director of the Rhode Island Economic

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Development Corporation, or designee; one of whom shall be the Chairperson of the Rhode

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Island Board of Regents, or designee; one of whom shall be a Woonsocket business owner, to be

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appointed by the Speaker; and one of whom shall be a resident of the City of Woonsocket, to be

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appointed by the Speaker.

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     In lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to a permanent advisory

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commission, a legislative study commission, or any commission created by a General Assembly

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resolution, the appointing authority may appoint a member of the general public to serve in lieu

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of a legislator, provided that the Majority Leader or the Minority Leader of the political party

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which is entitled to the appointment, consents to the member of the general public.

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     The purpose of said commission shall be to make a comprehensive study and analysis of

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the fiscal circumstances, procedures, and mechanisms utilized by the state in determining and

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implementing varying levels of support and control of the City of Woonsocket, as provided for in

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Rhode Island General Laws, Chapter 45-9. This shall include but not be limited to, studying any

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factors that may and/or have contributed to the occurrence of any events set forth in subsection

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45-9-3 (b) of the Rhode Island General Laws in the City of Woonsocket. The commission shall

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additionally ascertain recommendations that advance the city’s fiscal well-being, public safety,

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and welfare.  

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     Each member of the commission is hereby authorized and empowered to administer

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oaths; and the commission, in all cases of every nature pending before it, is hereby authorized and

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empowered to summon and examine witnesses and to compel the production and examination of

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papers, books, accounts, documents, records, certificates, and other legal evidence that may be

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necessary or proper for the determination and decision of any question before the discharge of

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any duty required by law of the commission.  All subpoenas and subpoenas duces tecum shall be

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signed by the chairperson, and shall be served as subpoenas are served in civil cases in the

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superior court. If any person fails to obey the command of the subpoena, without reasonable

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cause, or if a person in attendance before the commission shall, without reasonable cause, refuse

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to be sworn, or to be examined, or to order returnable in not less than two (2) nor more than (5)

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days, directing the person to show cause why he or she should not be adjudged in contempt, the

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commission may punish any contempt of its authority in like manner as contempt may be

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punished by any court.  Any person who shall willfully swear falsely in any proceeding, matter,

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or hearing before the commission shall be guilty of a felony. 

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     Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall meet at

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the call of the Speaker of the House and organize and shall select a chairperson from among the

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legislators. 

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     Vacancies in said commission shall be filled in like manner as the original appointment.

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     The membership of said commission shall receive no compensation for their services.

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     All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such advice and information,

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documentary and otherwise, to said commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or

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desirable by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this resolution.

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     The Speaker of the House is hereby authorized and directed to provide suitable quarters

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for said commission; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That the commission shall report its findings and recommendations to the

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House of Representatives no later than January 8, 2013, and said commission shall expire on

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March 8, 2013.

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LC02357

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY THE FISCAL

CIRCUMSTANCES, PROCEDURES, AND MECHANISMS UTILIZED BY THE STATE IN

DETERMINING AND IMPLEMENTING VARYING LEVELS OF SUPPORT AND

CONTROL OF THE CITY OF WOONSOCKET

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     This resolution would create a nine (9) member special legislative study commission

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whose purpose it would be to study the fiscal circumstances, procedures, and mechanisms utilized

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by the state in determining and implementing varying levels of support and control of the City of

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Woonsocket, and who would report back to the House of Representatives no later than January 8,

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2013, and whose life would expire on March 8, 2013.    

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LC02357

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