2014 -- S 2537

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LC004821

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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 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: Senators P Fogarty, Cote, Ottiano, and Lynch

     Date Introduced: February 27, 2014

     Referred To: Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs

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

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

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

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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 such Preparatory Commission shall consist of twelve (12) members:

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four (4) of whom shall be members of the House of Representatives, not more than three (3) from

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the same political party, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; four (4)

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of whom shall be members of the Senate, not more than three (3) from the same political party, to

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be appointed by the President of the Senate; and four (4) of whom shall be members of the public,

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none of whom shall be a holder of any elective public office, two (2) of whom shall be appointed

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by the Speaker of the House, one of whom shall be from a list of three (3) persons to be provided

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by the House Minority Leader, and two (2) of whom shall be appointed by the President of the

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Senate, one of whom shall be from a list of three (3) persons to be provided by the Senate

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Minority Leader; and be it 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, and to the public,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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submission of their final report.

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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 this purpose.

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

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

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

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provide suitable quarters for said commission.

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LC004821

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