2014 -- H 7669

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LC003676

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

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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 INVESTIGATE ISSUES OF

FAIRNESS IN THE HIRING AND RETENTION OF CERTAIN FACULTY MEMBERS AND

EMPLOYEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Dickinson, and Ferri

     Date Introduced: February 27, 2014

     Referred To: House Health, Education & Welfare

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

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consisting of five (5) members: all of whom shall be members of the Rhode Island House of

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Representatives, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be a member of

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the Rhode Island House of Representatives, representing a district which includes the campus of

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the University of Rhode Island, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House.

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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 investigate issues of fairness at the University

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of Rhode Island in the hiring and retention of faculty and employees based on their sexual

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orientation and/or gender identity.

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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.

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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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     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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     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 May 1, 2014, and said commission shall expire on

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October 1, 2014.

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LC003676

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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 INVESTIGATE ISSUES OF

FAIRNESS IN THE HIRING AND RETENTION OF CERTAIN FACULTY MEMBERS AND

EMPLOYEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND

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     This resolution would create a five (5) member special legislative investigative

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commission whose purpose it would be to investigate issues of fairness at the University of

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Rhode Island in the hiring and retention of faculty and employees based on their sexual

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orientation and or gender identity.

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     The special legislative investigative commission would report back to the House no later

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than May 1, 2014, and whose life would expire on October 1, 2014.

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LC003676

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LC003676 - Page 3 of 3