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

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

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

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

and

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

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

partisan preparatory commission to assemble information on constitutional questions for the

electors…"; now, therefore be it

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Minority Leader; and be it further

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

submission of their final report.

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

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

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

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

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

     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 requested to

provide suitable quarters for said commission.

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LC004821

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