2017 -- H 5243

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LC000563

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

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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 RHODE ISLAND'S

MINIMUM PRICING STATUTES

     Introduced By: Representatives Barros, Regunberg, McLaughlin, Johnston, and Shanley

     Date Introduced: January 26, 2017

     Referred To: House Finance

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

consisting of nine (9) members: four (4) of whom shall be members of the Rhode Island House of

Representatives, not more than three (3) from the same political party, to be appointed by the

Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be the Director of the Rhode Island Division of

Taxation, or designee; one of whom shall be an individual who represents the New England

Convenience Stores Association, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; one of whom shall

be a representative from a tobacco wholesale distributer, to be appointed by the Speaker of the

House; one of whom shall be an individual who represents the dairy industry, to be appointed by

the Speaker of the House; and one of whom shall be an individual with expertise in finance or

consumer economics, 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 all Rhode

Island laws and regulations pertaining to minimum pricing and to make recommendations to:

     (1) Examine the minimum pricing laws in existence in Rhode Island and the purpose

behind their initial creation;

     (2) Examine the minimum pricing laws of Rhode Island's neighboring states;

     (3) Provide an analysis of the impact of the Rhode Island minimum pricing laws on the

cost and price of products so regulated;

     (4) Provide an analysis of the impact of the neighboring states' minimum pricing laws on

the cost and price of products so regulated;

     (5) Develop recommendations as to whether Rhode Island's minimum pricing laws

continue to serve their original purpose and whether such laws put Rhode Island and its

businesses and residents at a competitive disadvantage; and

     (6) Determine whether the state's minimum pricing laws benefit certain businesses as

opposed to others by creating subsidies of unnecessarily large profit.

     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.

     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 April 6, 2017, and said commission shall expire on June 6,

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 RHODE ISLAND'S

MINIMUM PRICING STATUTES

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      This resolution would create a nine (9) member special legislative study commission

whose purpose it would be to study Rhode Island's minimum pricing statutes, and who would

report back to the House no later than April 6, 2017, and whose life would expire on June 6,

2017.

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LC000563

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