2016 -- H 8039

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LC005498

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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 FISCAL IMPACT OF

THE TAX EXEMPT STATUS OF CERTAIN SCHOOLS ON HOST COMMUNITIES

     Introduced By: Representative James N. McLaughlin

     Date Introduced: April 06, 2016

     Referred To: House Finance

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

consisting of eleven (11) members: five (5) of whom shall be members of the Rhode Island

House of Representatives, not more than four (4) from the same political party, to be appointed

by the Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be the Rhode Island Commissioner of

Elementary and Secondary Education, or designee; one of whom shall be the Chairperson of the

Council on Elementary and Secondary Education, or designee; two (2) of whom shall be

representatives from the Division of Taxation, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; and

two (2) of whom shall be the finance director or chief financial officer of cities or towns where

mayoral academies, charter schools, or for-profit schools are located therein, 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 of the

ramifications and fiscal impacts that the purchase or rental of real estate, or the construction or

expansion of new or existing mayoral academy, charter school, and for-profit school facilities

have on cities or towns where the schools are located or proposed to be located. This study will

include an analysis of the fiscal impact that the tax exempt status of these schools owning or

renting property has and will have on the host communities, the statutes and regulations

governing taxation, the tax exempt status of the real estate holdings of these schools, and the

possible use of payments in lieu of taxes agreements for host cities and towns where these schools

are located.

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

the call of the Speaker of the House and organize and shall select a chairperson from among the

legislators.

     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

May 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 FISCAL IMPACT OF

THE TAX EXEMPT STATUS OF CERTAIN SCHOOLS ON HOST COMMUNITIES

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     This resolution would create an eleven (11) member special legislative study commission

whose purpose it would be to make a comprehensive study of fiscal impact of the purchase or

rental of land, or the construction or expansion of new or existing mayoral academies, charter

schools, or other for-profit school facilities have on cities or towns where these schools are

located or proposed to be located. This study would include an analysis of the fiscal impact that

the tax exempt status of these schools owning property has and will have on the host community,

and possible use of payments in lieu of taxes agreements for such facilities.

     This commission would report back to the House of Representatives no later than

February 7, 2017, and would expire on May 7, 2017.

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