2015 -- S 0447

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LC001718

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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

TO APPROVE AND PUBLISH AND SUBMIT TO THE ELECTORS A PROPOSITION OF

AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE (GENERAL ASSEMBLY)

     Introduced By: Senators P Fogarty, Lynch, and Ottiano

     Date Introduced: February 25, 2015

     Referred To: Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs

     RESOLVED, That a majority of all members elected to each house of the general

assembly voting therefor, the following amendment to the Constitution of the state be proposed to

the qualified electors of the state in accordance with the provisions of Article XIV of the

Constitution for their approval and that it take the place of Article VI, Section 3 which is hereby

amended to read as follows:

ARTICLE VI

OF THE LEGISLATIVE POWER

     Section 3. Sessions of general assembly – Compensation of general assembly members

and officers. – There shall be a session of the general assembly at Providence commencing on the

first Tuesday of January in each year. Commencing in January 1995, senators and representatives

shall be compensated at an annual rate of ten thousand dollars ($10,000). Commencing in January

1996, the rate of compensation shall be adjusted annually to reflect changes in the cost of living,

as determined by the United States government, during a twelve (12) month period ending in the

immediately preceding year. Commencing in 2003, the president of the senate and the speaker of

the house shall be compensated at an annual rate double that of other senators and representatives.

     Senators and representatives shall receive the same health insurance benefits as full-time

state employees. Senators, representatives and general office holders shall contribute twenty

percent (20%) towards the premium for health care coverage paid for by the state of Rhode

Island.

     Senators and representatives shall be reimbursed for traveling expenses in going to and

from the general assembly at the same mileage paid to state workers as of the 31st day of

December in the year preceding each session.

     No senator or representative shall be eligible for any pension on account of service in the

general assembly after 1994; provided, however, that those senators and representatives first

elected before 1994 who elect to receive compensation for legislative service in 1995 and

thereafter, at the rate of five dollars for every day of actual attendance and eight cents (.08) per

mile for traveling expenses in going to and returning from the general assembly, for a maximum

of sixty days in any calendar year, shall be eligible for a pension on account of service in the

general assembly after 1994. The amount of such pension shall be based upon the pension

program in effect for legislators on January 1, 1994.

     The general assembly shall regulate the compensation of the governor of all other

officers, subject to limitations contained in the Constitution.

     RESOLVED, That this amendment shall take, in the Constitution of the state, the place of

Section 1, Article IV of the Constitution; it is further

     RESOLVED, That the said proposition of amendment shall be submitted to the electors

for their approval or rejection at the next statewide general election. The voting places in the

several cities and towns shall be kept open during the hours required by law for voting therein for

general officers of the state; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the secretary of state shall cause the said proposition of amendment to

be published as a part of this resolution in the newspapers of the state prior to the date of the said

meetings of the said electors; and the said proposition shall be inserted in the warrants or notices

to be issued previous to said meetings of the electors for the purpose of warning the town, ward,

or district meetings, and said proposition shall be read by the town, ward, or district meetings to

be held as aforesaid; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the town, ward and district meetings to be held aforesaid shall be

warned, and the list of voters shall be canvassed and made up, and the said town, ward, and

district meetings shall be conducted in the same manner as now provided by law for the town,

ward, and district meetings for the election of general officers of the state.

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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

TO APPROVE AND PUBLISH AND SUBMIT TO THE ELECTORS A PROPOSITION OF

AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE (GENERAL ASSEMBLY)

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     This resolution would present to the electors a Rhode Island constitutional amendment

requiring all senators, representatives and general office holders to contribute twenty percent

(20%) of their health insurance premiums.

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LC001718

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