2014 -- S 2119

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LC003360

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

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J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

PROVIDING FOR 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: Senators P Fogarty, Gallo, Lynch, and Ottiano

     Date Introduced: January 21, 2014

     Referred To: Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs

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     WHEREAS, Under the terms of Section 2 of Article XIV of the Rhode Island

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Constitution the question “Shall there be a convention to amend or revise the constitution?” may

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appear on the ballot at the next general election; and

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     WHEREAS, Section 2 of Article XIV further provides that “Prior to a vote by the

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

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partisan preparatory commission to assemble information on constitutional questions for the

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electors …” now, therefore be it

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     RESOLVED, That upon enactment of a law providing for placing on the ballot at the

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next general election the question “Shall there be a convention to amend or revise the

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constitution?” a preparatory commission shall forthwith be created to assemble information on

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constitutional questions for the electors; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That such preparatory commission shall consist of fourteen (14) members,

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

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     RESOLVED, That the speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint four (4)

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members of the house of representatives, not more than three (3) of whom shall be from the same

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political party; the president of the senate shall appoint four (4) senators, no more than three (3)

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of whom shall be from the same political party; six (6) members of the public, none of whom

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shall be a member of any political committee, nor holder of any public office, shall be appointed

 

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as follows: two (2) by the speaker of the house of representatives; one by the house minority

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leader; two (2) by the president of the senate; and one by the senate minority leader; and be it

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further

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     RESOLVED, That the preparatory commission shall report its findings to the governor,

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the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, the minority leaders of the

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house and senate, and to the public, through the news media, no later than September 1, 2014.

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     FORTHWITH, upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall

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meet at the call of the speaker of the house and organize and shall select from among themselves

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a chairperson. Vacancies on the commission shall be filled in like manner as the original

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appointment.

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

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

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

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

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

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by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this resolution.

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     The speaker of the house is hereby authorized and requested to provide suitable quarters

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for said commission.

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LC003360

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