2017 -- H 6351

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LC002908

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

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J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATION COMMISSION TO STUDY VETERAN AND

MILITARY SPOUSE EDUCATION & EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Azzinaro, Tobon, Fellela, Messier, and McLaughlin

     Date Introduced: June 21, 2017

     Referred To: House Veterans` Affairs

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     WHEREAS, Since 2001, over two million American military personnel have been

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deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan; and

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     WHEREAS, The constant threat of foreign and domestic terrorism as well as political

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instability abroad continues to require placing American military personnel in harm's way for the

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greater good; and

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     WHEREAS, Rhode Island, along with the rest of the country, is witnessing the return of

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our husbands and wives, sons and daughters, and mothers and fathers from the fields of battle;

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and

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     WHEREAS, Rhode Island, despite its small size, has borne a significant share of sacrifice

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in these recent conflicts; and

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     WHEREAS, The mobilization rate of the state's own National Guard to active duty status

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is the second highest in the entire United States with over 10,000 unit deployments; and

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     WHEREAS, The number of veterans living in Rhode Island who served in the Gulf Wars

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is three times higher than the national per capita average, and is expected to grow as the

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operational tempo declines; and

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     WHEREAS, Rhode Island also has numerous active duty military and their families

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stationed and living in our state, many whose spouses were employed in out-of-state licensed

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occupations; and

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     WHEREAS, Many newly stationed Rhode Island active-duty spouses contributed to their

 

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families economic well-being in other state duty stations through well-paying jobs that

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supplemented active duty pay; and

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     WHEREAS, Certain other states recognize active-duty spouses' professional credentials

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and licenses in an expedited, quasi-reciprocal manner, thus avoiding costly and time-consuming

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educational, apprenticeship, and other repetitive licensure requirements; and

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     WHEREAS, The fundamental freedoms enjoyed by all citizens of our state and these

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United States are insured in no small part through the honorable service of our nation's active-

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duty military and honored veterans; and

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     WHEREAS, The people of this state owe a deep debt of gratitude for the sacrifices made

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by these men and women who have placed their lives in harm's way to protect and defend our

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nation from all foreign enemies and terrorist threats; and

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     WHEREAS, In order to ensure that these men and women and their families, upon

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returning to and/or being newly stationed in our state, may resume their educations, personal

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growth, and career development in Rhode Island without delay, to obtain full-time civilian

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employment and contribute to our state's economy, all branches of state government must

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implement policies that will assist these individuals and their families in securing the highest

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quality Yellow Ribbon educational experience under the Post-9/11 GI Bill, as well as well-paying

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employment opportunities through expedited professional credentialing and/or reciprocal

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licensing rights to enhance their personal advancement and economic well-being of their families;

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now, therefore be it

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

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consisting of thirteen (13) members: three (3) of whom shall be members of the House of

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Representatives, not more than two (2) from the same political party, to be appointed by the

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Speaker of the House; three (3) of whom shall be members of the Senate, not more than two (2)

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from the same political party, to be appointed by the President of the Senate; one of whom shall

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be the Commanding Officer of the Rhode Island National Guard, or designee; one of whom shall

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be the Director of Veterans Affairs, or designee; one of whom shall be the Director of the Rhode

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Island Veterans Administration, or designee; and four (4) of whom shall be members of the

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public who are either active-duty military or veterans, two (2) of whom shall be appointed by the

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Speaker of the House, and two (2) of whom shall be appointed by the Senate President.

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     In lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to a permanent advisory

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commission, a legislative study commission, or any commission created by a general assembly

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resolution, the appointing authority may appoint a member of the general public to serve in lieu

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of a legislator; provided, that the majority leader or the minority leader of the political party

 

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which is entitled to the appointment consents to the appointment of the member of the general

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public.

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     The purpose of said commission shall be to study and discuss national best practices and

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the implementation thereof pertaining to: the state's current status of "Yellow Ribbon" schools;

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educational optimization of the Post-9/11 GI Bill's educational benefits; and legislation and

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regulations needed to offer active-duty military spouses and veterans expedited state certifications

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or professional licensure either through: reciprocity with other states with similar requirements;

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accepting relevant military training and experience for the purposes of certification requirements;

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or via temporary licensure/certifications that would allow these individuals to work while

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completing outstanding state requirements for full licensure and/or certification.

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

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the call of the Speaker of the House and the President of the Senate and shall organize. The

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Speaker of the House shall designate one member of the House and the President of the Senate

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shall designate one member of the Senate to serve as co-chairpersons of the commission.

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Vacancies in said commission shall be filled in like manner as the original appointment. The

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membership of said commission shall receive no compensation for their services.

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     All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such advice and information,

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documentary and otherwise, to said commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or

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desirable by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this resolution.

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     The Joint Committee on Legislative Services is hereby authorized and directed to provide

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suitable quarters for said commission; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That the commission shall report its findings and recommendations to the

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General Assembly no later than April 30, 2018, and said commission shall expire on July 30,

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2018.

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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

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATION COMMISSION TO STUDY VETERAN AND

MILITARY SPOUSE EDUCATION & EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

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     This resolution would create a thirteen (13) member special legislative commission

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whose purpose it would be to make a comprehensive study of veteran and military spouse

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education and employment opportunities, and who would report back to the General Assembly no

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later than April 30, 2018, and whose life would expire on July 30, 2018.

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