2017 -- S 0951

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LC002781

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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: Senators Felag, Seveney, Cote, Lynch Prata, and Jabour

     Date Introduced: June 08, 2017

     Referred To: Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs

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

deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan; and

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

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

greater good; and

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

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

and

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

in these recent conflicts; and

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

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

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

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

operational tempo declines; and

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

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

occupations; and

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

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

supplemented active duty pay; and

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

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

educational, apprenticeship, and other repetitive licensure requirements; and

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

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

duty military and honored veterans; and

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

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

nation from all foreign enemies and terrorist threats; and

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

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

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

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

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

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

employment opportunities through expedited professional credentialing and/or reciprocal

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

now, therefore be it

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

     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

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

public.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 Joint Committee on Legislative Services 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

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

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

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

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

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

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