2017 -- S 0755

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LC002438

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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 -- DEPARTMENTS OF STATE

GOVERNMENT

     Introduced By: Senators Jabour, Cote, Calkin, Coyne, and Seveney

     Date Introduced: April 12, 2017

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 42-6-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-6 entitled "Departments

of State Government" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     42-6-3. Appointment of directors.

     (a) At the January session following his or her election to office, the governor shall

appoint a director of administration, a director of revenue, a director of public safety, a director of

human services, a director of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals, a

director of transportation, a director of business regulation, a director of labor and training, a

director of environmental management, a director for children, youth and families, a director of

elderly affairs, and a director of corrections, and a chief innovation officer. The governor shall, in

all cases of appointment of a director while the senate is in session, notify the senate of his or her

appointment and the senate shall, within sixty (60) legislative days after receipt of the notice, act

upon the appointment. If the senate shall, within sixty (60) legislative days, vote to disapprove the

appointment it shall so notify the governor, who shall forthwith appoint and notify the senate of

the appointment of a different person as director and so on in like manner until the senate shall

fail to so vote disapproval of the governor's appointment. If the senate shall fail, for sixty (60)

legislative days next after notice, to act upon any appointment of which it has been notified by the

governor, the person so appointed shall be the director. The governor may withdraw any

appointment of which he or she has given notice to the senate, at any time within sixty (60)

legislative days thereafter and before action has been taken thereon by the senate.

     (b) Except as expressly provided in § 42-6-9, no director of any department shall be

appointed or employed pursuant to any contract of employment for a period of time greater than

the remainder of the governor's current term of office. Any contract entered into in violation of

this section after July 1, 1994 is hereby declared null and void.

     SECTION 2. 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 -- DEPARTMENTS OF STATE

GOVERNMENT

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     This act would add a chief innovation officer to the governor's list of appointments to be

made following an election to office.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC002438

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