2016 -- H 7563 SUBSTITUTE A

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2016

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY AND PROVIDE

RECOMMENDATIONS TO PROMOTE THE UPGRADE OF FACILITIES USED FOR

PUBLIC PURPOSES BY ENCOURAGING PRIVATE INVESTMENT IN QUALIFYING

PROJECTS

     Introduced By: Representatives Shekarchi, McEntee, O'Brien, Ackerman, and

     Date Introduced: February 11, 2016

     Referred To: House Finance

     WHEREAS, There is a public need for the construction, rehabilitation, and upgrade of

facilities used for public purposes, and that it is in the public interest to provide for such

construction, rehabilitation, and upgrade of such facilities; and

     WHEREAS, There is a public need for timely and cost-effective acquisition, design,

construction, improvement, renovation, expansion, equipping, maintenance, operation,

implementation, or installation of projects serving a public purpose, including educational

facilities, transportation facilities, water, or wastewater management facilities, and infrastructure,

technology infrastructure, and other public infrastructure and government facilities within the

state which serve a public need and purpose, and that such public need may not be wholly

satisfied by existing procurement methods; and

     WHEREAS, There are inadequate resources to develop new educational facilities,

transportation facilities, water or wastewater management facilities and infrastructure, technology

infrastructure, and other public infrastructure and government facilities for the benefit of residents

of this state, and that a public-private partnership has demonstrated that it can meet the needs by

improving the schedule for delivery, lowering the cost, and providing other benefits to the public;

and

     WHEREAS, It is vital to the economic welfare and growth of our state to encourage

investment and to promote the upgrade of facilities by private entities; now, therefore be it

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

consisting of seven (7) members: one of whom shall be the Chairman of the House Committee on

Labor, or designee, who shall serve as Chairperson; and six (6) of whom shall be affected

members of the public, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House.

     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 member of the general public.

     The purpose of said commission shall be to make a comprehensive study and provide

recommendations to promote the upgrade of facilities used for public purposes by encouraging

private investment in qualifying projects, including but not limited to:

     • Requirements for facilitating various bond financing mechanisms, private capital, and

other funding for the development and operation of qualifying projects, including expansion and

acceleration of such financing to meet the public need; and

     • Methods to provide the greatest possible flexibility to public and private entities

contracting for the provision of public services.

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

the call of the Speaker of the House.

     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 Speaker of the House 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

House of Representatives no later than February 7, 2017, and said commission shall expire on

April 7, 2017.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY AND PROVIDE

RECOMMENDATIONS TO PROMOTE THE UPGRADE OF FACILITIES USED FOR

PUBLIC PURPOSES BY ENCOURAGING PRIVATE INVESTMENT IN QUALIFYING

PROJECTS

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     This resolution would create a seven (7) member special legislative study commission

whose purpose it would be to make a comprehensive study and provide recommendations to

promote the upgrade of facilities used for public purposes by encouraging private investment in

qualifying projects, and who would report back to the House of Representatives no later than

February 7, 2017, and whose life would expire on April 7, 2017.

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