2017 -- H 6301

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

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A N   A C T

     RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- APPOINTMENTS

COMMISSIONS

     Introduced By: Representative K. Joseph Shekarchi

     Date Introduced: June 08, 2017

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 40.1-29-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 40.1-29 entitled

"Governor's Council on Behavioral Health" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     40.1-29-3. Members.

     (a) The council shall consist of twenty-six (26) members.

      (1) There shall be four (4) members of the legislature, two (2) shall be from the senate

and shall be appointed by the lieutenant governor senate president to serve for their legislative

term, one from each of the major political parties, and two (2) shall be from the house of

representatives and shall be appointed by the speaker to serve for their legislative term, one from

each of the two (2) major political parties.

      (2) The non-legislative members shall be the executive director of the Drug and Alcohol

Treatment Association, the executive director of the Council of Community Mental Health

Organizations, the mental health advocate, and a representative of the AFL-CIO to be appointed

by the governor.

      (3) The remaining eighteen (18) public members shall be appointed by and serve at the

pleasure of the governor and shall represent such community interests as substance abuse

treatment and prevention professionals, consumers of substance abuse programs and their

families, mental health treatment professionals, adult and elderly consumers of mental health

services and their families, families of children who are consumers of mental health and

substance abuse services, the judiciary, criminal justice officials and local government officials.

      (4) Not less than fifty (50%) percent of the public members shall be individuals who are

not state employees or providers of behavioral health services.

      (5) There shall be sufficient representation by the families of children who are

consumers of mental health and substance abuse services in order to ensure adequate

representation of such children.

      (6) Every effort shall be made to ensure that appointed members represent the cultural

diversity of the state.

      (7) All members shall have demonstrable expertise in, or experience with substance

abuse or mental health services in Rhode Island. In addition, the directors or their designees of the

departments of children, youth, and families; corrections; education; health; human services;

elderly affairs and mental health, retardation, and hospitals; the attorney general or designee and

the executive director of the Rhode Island justice commission shall serve as ex officio and

without a vote as members of the council.

      (b) Any vacancy which may occur in the council shall be filled in the same manner as

the original appointments.

      (c) The governor shall designate one member as the chairperson of the council.

     SECTION 2. Section 42-23-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-23 entitled

"Commission on Interstate Cooperation" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     42-23-2. Composition -- Tenure of members.

     (a) The commission on interstate cooperation shall consist of:

      (1) The governor, the lieutenant governor, the attorney general, and the speaker of the

house of representatives, and the senate president, ex officio;

      (2) Four (4) members of the senate to be appointed by the president of the senate, not

more than three (3) of whom shall be members of the same political party;

      (3) Four (4) members of the house of representatives to be appointed by the speaker, not

more than three (3) of whom shall be members of the same political party; and

      (4) Five (5) qualified electors of the state, not more than four (4) of whom shall be

members of the same political party, to be appointed by the governor.

      (b) Each member of the commission who holds public office shall serve during his or her

term of office and the other members shall serve during the pleasure of the governor.

     SECTION 3. Section 42-58-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-58 entitled "American

and Canadian French Cultural Exchange Commission" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     42-58-1. Commission established.

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     There shall be an American and Canadian French cultural exchange commission to

consist of nine (9) members, all of whom shall be American citizens of French Canadian ancestry

and residents of the state; three (3) of whom shall be appointed by the speaker of the house of

representatives; three (3) of whom shall be appointed by the lieutenant governor senate president;

and three (3) of whom shall be appointed by the governor. This commission shall establish,

maintain, and develop cultural ties between French-Canadians and Franco-Americans; foster a

special interest in the historical and cultural background of both groups, as well as in the

economic, political, social, and artistic life of the countries involved; and shall help establish or

promote French language programs in the schools of the state.

     SECTION 4. Section 42-65-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-65 entitled "American

and Irish Cultural Exchange Commission" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     42-65-1. Commission established.

     There shall be an American and Irish cultural exchange commission to consist of nine (9)

members, all of whom shall be American citizens descended from Irish ancestry and residents of

the state; three (3) of whom shall be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives;

three (3) of whom shall be appointed by the lieutenant governor senate president; and three (3) of

whom shall be appointed by the governor. The commission shall establish, maintain, and develop

cultural ties between Irish and Irish-Americans; foster a special interest in the historical and

cultural background of both groups, as well as in the economic, political, social, and artistic life

of the countries involved; and shall help establish or promote Gaelic language programs in the

schools of the state.

     SECTION 5. Section 42-77-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-77 entitled "Minority

Groups Advisory Commission" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     42-77-1. Commission established.

     There shall be a minority groups advisory commission to consist of nine (9) members, all

of whom shall be members of minority groups; three (3) of whom shall be appointed by the

speaker of the house of representatives; three (3) of whom shall be appointed by the lieutenant

governor senate president; and three (3) of whom shall be appointed by the governor. The

commission shall establish, maintain, and develop cultural ties among various minority groups

located within the state; advise the governor and general assembly on any problem encountering

various groups of minorities, especially refugees; and foster a special interest in the historical and

cultural background of minority groups, as well as in the economic, political, social, and artistic

life of the countries involved.

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     SECTION 6. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

     RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- APPOINTMENTS

COMMISSIONS

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     This act would change the responsibility of making appointments to certain advisory and

exchange commissions from the lieutenant governor to the senate president.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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