2013 -- S 0971

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LC02686

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2013

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

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $258,866 FOR CRANSTON AND $158,290.12 FOR

CHARIHO IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2013-2014 STATE BUDGET

     Introduced By: Senators Gallo, Miller, and Lombardi

     Date Introduced: May 30, 2013

     Referred To: Senate Finance

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     WHEREAS, The Chariho Regional School District ("Chariho") operates a regional career

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and technical center ("CTC") for high school students seeking to learn a trade such as automotive

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repair or culinary arts; and

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     WHEREAS, The CTC enrolls students from not just the Chariho communities but also

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from Westerly, Narragansett, South Kingstown, North Kingstown, and West Greenwich; and

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     WHEREAS, As of February 11, 2009, the board of regents had promulgated regulations

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stating that the state would reimburse "100%" of the salary, benefits, and travel expenses of the

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director and guidance counselors at any CTC; and

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     WHEREAS, On February 11, 2009, Chariho joined litigation brought by the Cranston

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Public Schools ("Cranston") seeking reimbursement from the Rhode Island department of

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education ("RIDE") for the salaries, benefits, and travel expenses of the director and guidance

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counselors at its CTC; and

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     WHEREAS, RIDE denied all liability because, among other reasons, the general

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assembly had made no appropriation for the payments sought by Chariho and Cranston; and

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     WHEREAS, Chariho and Cranston ultimately prosecuted such litigation to the Rhode

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Island Supreme Court where it was referred for mediation; and

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     WHEREAS, Chariho, Cranston, and RIDE participated in mediation conducted by Chief

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Justice Williams (ret.), and entered into a settlement agreement whereby RIDE agreed to pay the

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salaries, benefits, and travel expenses of the directors and guidance counselors at the Chariho

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CTC and Cranston's for one year in the amount of $258,866 for Cranston and $158,290.12 for

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Chariho; and

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     WHEREAS, A condition of the settlement was that the Fiscal Year 2013 State Budget

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include an appropriation for the same as RIDE was unwilling to take such funds from its

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operating budget; and

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     WHEREAS, The Governor did not, however, request the necessary funds in the Fiscal

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Year 2013 State Budget and the general assembly made no appropriation for the same in the

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Fiscal Year 2013 State Budget; and

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     WHEREAS, The Supreme Court has held the matter over one more year to allow the

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parties to secure an appropriation in the Fiscal Year 2014 State Budget; now, therefore be it

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     RESOLVED, That there is hereby appropriated, out of any money in the treasury not

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otherwise appropriated for the fiscal year 2013-2014, the sum of two hundred fifty-eight thousand

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eight hundred sixty-six dollars ($258,866) to the City of Cranston and the sum of one hundred

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and fifty-eight thousand two hundred ninety dollars and twelve cents ($158,290.12) to Chariho;

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and the state controller is hereby authorized and directed to draw his orders upon the general

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treasurer for the payment of said sum, (optional or so much thereof as may be from time to time

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required,) upon receipt by him of properly authenticated vouchers.

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LC02686

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

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

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $258,866 FOR CRANSTON AND $158,290.12 FOR

CHARIHO IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2013-2014 STATE BUDGET

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     This resolution would authorize the appropriation of the sum of $258,866 to the City of

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Cranston and the sum of $158,290.12 to Chariho in the fiscal year 2013-2014 state budget.

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LC02686

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