2014 -- H 8263

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LC005650

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION - THE RHODE ISLAND BOARD OF EDUCATION ACT

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Ackerman, Tomasso, Morin, O'Brien, and Abney

     Date Introduced: May 29, 2014

     Referred To: House Health, Education & Welfare

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 16-97-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-97 entitled "The Rhode

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Island Board of Education Act" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     16-97-1. Rhode Island board of education established. -- (a) Effective January 1, 2013,

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there is created a board of education which shall be and is constituted a public corporation,

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empowered to sue and be sued in its own name, to have a corporate seal, and to be vested with all

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the powers and duties currently vested in the board of governors for higher education established

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in chapter 16-59 and the board of regents for elementary and secondary education established in

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chapter 16-60.

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      (b) Upon its organization, the board of education shall be vested with the legal title (in

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trust for the state) to all property, real and personal, now owned by and/or under the control or in

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the custody of the board of governors for higher education and the board of regents for

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elementary and secondary education, for the use of the board of education. The board of

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education is hereby-designated successor to all powers, rights, duties, and privileges pertaining to

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the board of regents for elementary and secondary education and the board of governors for

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higher education.

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      (c) The board of education shall consist of eleven (11) twelve (12) public members

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appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate. One of the members shall be

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an employer community member of the state workforce investment board as established in ยง28-

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45.1-2. Four (4) of the members initially appointed pursuant to this section shall serve terms of

 

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three (3) years; four (4) members initially appointed pursuant to this section shall serve terms of

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two (2) years; and, three (3) members initially appointed pursuant to this section shall serve terms

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of one year. Thereafter, all members appointed pursuant to this section shall serve terms of three

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(3) years. No board member shall be appointed to serve more than two (2) three (3) year terms.

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      (d) The governor shall select from the appointed members a chairperson and vice

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chairperson. A quorum shall consist of six (6) members of the board. A majority vote of those

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present shall be required for action.

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      (e) The statutory responsibilities of the department of elementary and secondary

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education, the commissioner of elementary and secondary education, and the commissioner of

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higher education shall remain unchanged. No later than July 1, 2013, the board of education shall

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submit to the governor and the general assembly its final plan for the permanent administrative

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structure for higher education. As a requisite element of the administrative structure for higher

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education, the board of education shall establish a plan for distributing the assets, responsibilities,

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powers, authorities, and duties of the office of higher education to the three (3) higher education

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institutions and appropriate state agencies. Said distribution shall be done in a manner designed to

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maximize efficiency, provide greater articulation of the respective responsibilities of elementary

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and secondary and higher education, and ensure that students are prepared to succeed in school,

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college, careers, and life. The permanent governance structure for higher education shall, at a

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minimum: (1) Provide clear guidance on statutory, legal, financial and contractual obligations; (2)

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Establish a policy framework that furthers the goals of this chapter; and (3) Establish appropriate

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administrative structures, support, policies and procedures. Effective July 1, 2014, the office of

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higher education shall be abolished.

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     (f) The board shall prepare a plan that ensures that career and technical education, adult

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education and the community college of Rhode Island are given due consideration as important

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components of the state's public education system as well as its workforce development efforts.

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The plan shall be developed with input from Rhode Island-based employers and shall be

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submitted to the governor, the speaker of the house and the president of the senate no later than

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January 12, 2015.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION - THE RHODE ISLAND BOARD OF EDUCATION ACT

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     This act would expand the board of education membership from eleven (11) members to

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twelve (12) by adding an employer community member of the state workforce investment board.

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The act would also require the board to prepare a plan that ensures that career and technical

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education, adult education and the community college of Rhode Island are given due

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consideration as important components of the state's public education system.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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