2015 -- H 5532

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LC001625

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

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J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO EXAMINE THE

CONSOLIDATION OF MUNICIPAL AND EDUCATIONAL FUNCTIONS ON A COUNTY

AND/OR STATEWIDE BASIS

     Introduced By: Representatives Costantino, Marshall, Lima, Winfield, and Hull

     Date Introduced: February 25, 2015

     Referred To: House Municipal Government

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

consisting of seventeen (17) members: five (5) 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; 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 President of the Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns, or designee; one of whom shall

be the President of the Rhode Island Association of School Committees, or designee; one of

whom shall be the President of the Rhode Island Association of Administrators, or designee; one

of whom shall be the President of the Rhode Island Chapter of the American Federation of

Teachers, or designee; one of whom shall be the President of the Rhode Island Chapter of the

National  Education Association, or designee; one of whom shall be the President of the Rhode

Island Independent School Association, or designee; two (2) of whom shall be members of the

general public, one of whom shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House, and one of whom

shall be appointed by the President of the Senate; and one of whom shall be the Commissioner of

Elementary and Secondary Education, or designee. 

     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 all aspects of consolidating municipal

government and public education functions in order to determine if any services can be

consolidated on a county and/or statewide basis in order to obtain a positive impact upon state

and local finances and to make recommendations with respect thereto. 

     Forthwith upon 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 organize and shall select,

from among the legislators, a chairperson. 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 recommendations to the

General Assembly no later than March 2, 2016 and said commission shall expire on June 2, 2016.

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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 LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO EXAMINE THE

CONSOLIDATION OF MUNICIPAL AND EDUCATIONAL FUNCTIONS ON A COUNTY

AND/OR STATEWIDE BASIS

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     This resolution would create a seventeen (17) member special legislative commission

whose purpose it would be to make a comprehensive study of all aspects of consolidating

municipal government and public education functions in order to determine if any services can be

consolidated on a county and/or statewide basis, and who would report back to the general

assembly no later than March 2, 2016 and whose life would expire on June 2, 2016.

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