2014 -- S 2425 SUBSTITUTE A

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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

CREATING A SPECIAL JOINT COMMISSION TO STUDY THE FEASIBILITY OF

ESTABLISHING A DESERT STORM AND DESERT SHIELD MEMORIAL AT THE

RHODE ISLAND VETERANS' CEMETERY

     Introduced By: Senators Felag, Pichardo, Lombardi, McCaffrey, and Walaska

     Date Introduced: February 27, 2014

     Referred To: Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs

     (Human Services)

     WHEREAS, Rhode Islanders have served honorably in the Armed Forces since the

Revolutionary War; and

     WHEREAS, Many Rhode Islanders served our country in Operation Desert Storm and

Operation Desert Shield; and

     WHEREAS, There is no memorial in our state honoring the service of Rhode Islanders

who were deployed in support of the First Gulf War; and

     WHEREAS, Fitting monuments and memorials have been established at the Rhode

Island Veterans' Memorial Cemetery for veterans who have served in past wars and military

actions; now, therefore be it

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

consisting of nine (9) members: three (3) of whom shall be members of the Senate, not more than

two (2) from the same political party, to be appointed by the President of the Senate; three (3) of

whom shall be members of the House of Representatives, not more than two (2) from the same

political party, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be the Associate

Director of the Division of Veterans' Affairs, Department of Human Services, or designee, who

shall act as chair of the commission; one of whom shall be a veteran of the First Gulf War

appointed by the Speaker of the House; and one of whom shall be a faculty member of an Arts

Department in one of the state colleges, to be appointed by the President of the Senate.

     In lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to a permanent advisory

commission, a legislative study commission, or any commission created by a General Assembly

resolution, the appointing authority may appoint a member of the general public to serve in lieu

of a legislator, provided that the majority leader or the minority leader of the political party which

is entitled to the appointment consents to the appointment of the member of the general public.

     The purpose of said commission shall be to study the feasibility of establishing a Desert

Storm and Desert Shield Memorial at the RI Veterans' Cemetery, how a design for such a

memorial would be sought and selected, and how the costs of the memorial would be funded.

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

the call of the Chair and organize. 

     Vacancies in said commission shall be filled in like manner as the original appointment.

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

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

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

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

     The Joint Committee on Legislative Services is hereby authorized and directed to provide

Suitable quarters for said commission; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the commission shall report its findings and results to the General

Assembly on or before March 4, 2015, and said commission shall expire on July 1, 2015. 

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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

CREATING A SPECIAL JOINT COMMISSION TO STUDY THE FEASIBILITY OF

ESTABLISHING A DESERT STORM AND DESERT SHIELD MEMORIAL AT THE

RHODE ISLAND VETERANS' CEMETERY

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     This resolution would create a nine (9) member special legislative commission whose

purpose it would be to study the feasibility of establishing a Desert Storm and Desert Shield

Memorial at the Rhode Island Veterans' Cemetery, and who would report back to the General

Assembly on or before March 4, 2015, and said commission would expire on July 1, 2015.

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