2015 -- H 5308

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LC000863

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY - LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT COMMISSION

     Introduced By: Representatives Morgan, Reilly, Price, Filippi, and Lancia

     Date Introduced: February 05, 2015

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 22-14-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 22-14 entitled "Legislative

Oversight Commission" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     22-14-1. Establishment -- Purpose -- Membership -- Compensation. -- (a) There is

established an oversight commission empowered to conduct evaluations and reviews of statutes,

statutory entities, and associated rules and regulations. The review or evaluation shall include, but

not be limited to, the following as its objectives:

      (1) The elimination of inactive entities or statutes;

      (2) The elimination of entities or statutes that duplicate other entities or statutes or other

governmental programs and activities or determination of an appropriate consolidation for the

duplicate entities, statutes, or governmental programs and activities;

      (3) The elimination or modification of inefficient, unnecessary, or ineffective entities or

statutes; and

      (4) The determination of the impact of rules and regulations promulgated by any entity.

      (b) The commission shall consist of fourteen (14) members all of whom shall be citizens

and residents of this state; 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; 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; one of whom shall be the director of administration; four

(4) of whom shall be members of the general public to be appointed by the governor; one of

whom shall be the fiscal assistant to the house finance committee; and one of whom shall be the

auditor general.

      (c) The public members shall be appointed for terms of three (3) years except for the two

(2) members originally appointed; one shall be appointed for a term of one year and one shall be

appointed for a term of two (2) years.

      (d) The legislative members shall serve a term of two (2) years. The members shall

annually elect one of them as chairperson of the commission.

      (e) Any vacancy on the commission, occurring for any reason prior to the expiration of

the term, including, but not limited to, termination of active membership in the general assembly,

shall be filled for the unexpired term by the appointing authority in the same manner as the

original appointment.

      (f) Any member of the commission may, for cause, be summarily removed from office

by the appointing authority, which removal shall be subject to judicial review by the superior

court, and pending that review the member shall not carry out any duties as a commission

member.

      (g) The director of administration, the fiscal assistant to the house finance committee,

and the auditor general respectively may designate a person to represent them at all commission

meetings.

      (h) The members of the commission, except those members from the general public,

shall receive no salaries but shall be allowed reasonable expenses in the performance of their

official duties.

      (i) The members from the general public shall not be compensated for service on the

board.

     (j) The secretary of the commission shall have the power to issue subpoenas upon a

majority vote of the commission.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC000863

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY - LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT COMMISSION

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     This act would enable the secretary of the oversight commission to issue subpoenas upon

a majority vote.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC000863

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