2014 -- H 8061

========

LC005155

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

____________

J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

PROVIDING FOR A BI-PARTISAN PREPARATORY COMMISSION TO ASSEMBLE

INFORMATION ON CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTIONS IN PREPARATION FOR A VOTE

BY THE QUALIFIED ELECTORS ON THE HOLDING OF A CONSTITUTIONAL

CONVENTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE XIV SECTION 2 OF THE RHODE

ISLAND CONSTITUTION

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Keable, Silva, Newberry, and Marcello

     Date Introduced: April 16, 2014

     Referred To: House Judiciary

1

     WHEREAS, Under the terms of Section 2 of Article XIV of Amendments and Revisions

2

to the Rhode Island Constitution the question "Shall there be a convention to amend or revise the

3

constitution?" must appear on the ballot at the general election, to be held on November 4, 2014;

4

and

5

     WHEREAS, Section 2 of Article XIV further provides that "prior to a vote by the

6

qualified electors on the holding of a convention, the general assembly…shall provide for a bi-

7

partisan preparatory commission to assemble information on constitutional questions for the

8

electors…"; now, therefore be it

9

     RESOLVED, That such Preparatory Commission shall consist of twelve (12) members,

10

appointed as herein provided, to serve until the submission of their final report; and be it further

11

     RESOLVED, That the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint three (3)

12

members of the House of Representatives; the House Minority Leader shall appoint one member

13

of the House of Representatives; the President of the Senate shall appoint three (3) members of

14

the Senate; the Senate Minority Leader shall appoint one member of the Senate; and four (4) of

15

whom shall be members of the public, none of whom shall be a holder of any elective public

16

office and shall be appointed as follows; one by the Speaker of the House, one by the House

17

Minority Leader, one by the President of the Senate, and one by the Senate Minority Leader; and

18

be it further

 

1

     RESOLVED, That the Preparatory Commission shall report its findings to the Governor,

2

the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President of the Senate, and to the public,

3

through the news media, no later than July 30, 2014.

4

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

5

at the call of the Speaker of the House and the President of the Senate and shall organize and

6

select from among themselves two (2) co-chairpersons, one of whom shall be a member of the

7

House of Representatives and one of whom shall be a member of the Senate. Vacancies in said

8

commission shall be filled in like manner as the original appointment. Members shall serve until

9

submission of their final report.

10

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

11

shall be allowed their travel and necessary expenses. The commission may engage such clerical,

12

technical and other assistance as it may deem necessary to accomplish this purpose.

13

     The commission may make use of such sources and means of gathering information

14

pertinent to the fulfillment of its charge as it may deem appropriate.

15

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

16

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

17

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

18

     The Joint Committee on Legislative Services is hereby authorized and requested to

19

provide suitable quarters for said commission.

========

LC005155

========

 

LC005155 - Page 2 of 2