2018 -- H 7975

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LC004425

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2018

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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 AND MAKE

RECOMMENDATIONS TO ENCOURAGE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WITHIN

BLACKSTONE VALLEY

     Introduced By: Representatives Marszalkowski, Morin, Tobon, O`Grady, and Newberry

     Date Introduced: March 16, 2018

     Referred To: House Municipal Government

     WHEREAS, Sound economic development is essential to the future of the Blackstone

Valley, consisting of the communities of Burrillville, Central Falls, Cumberland, Glocester,

Lincoln, North Providence, North Smithfield, Pawtucket, Smithfield, and Woonsocket; now,

therefore be it

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

consisting of eighteen (18) members: three (3) of whom shall be members of the House of

Representatives representing communities in the Blackstone Valley, not more than two (2) from

the same political party, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be the

President of Bryant University, or designee; one of whom shall be the President and CEO of the

Northern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce, or designee; one of whom shall be the Rhode

Island Secretary of Commerce, or designee; one of whom shall be the Executive Director of the

Pawtucket Foundation, or designee; one of whom shall be the Project Coordinator of the Broad

Street Regeneration Initiative, or designee; one of whom shall be the Chairman/Executive

Director of the Downtown Woonsocket Collaborative, or designee; one of whom shall be the

Chair of the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council, or designee; one of whom shall be the

Executive Director of the Rhode Island Manufacturers Association, or designee; three (3) of

whom shall be representatives of small business owners with not more than twenty (20)

employees, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; three (3) of whom shall be

representatives of large business owners with more than twenty (20) employees, to be appointed

by the Speaker of the House; and one of whom shall be an attorney with zoning and business

development experience, 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 and make

recommendations to foster and promote the economic growth of the Blackstone Valley in order to

promote a stable and diversified local economy and enhance the quality of life, including, but not

limited to:

     (1) Recommending strategies that promote and enhance responsible economic growth in

the community;

     (2) Methods to support the continued success of existing business and industry;

     (3) Pathways to produce a business climate that encourages new business and industry to

locate in the area; and

     (4) Policies that support the overall economic welfare of the Blackstone Valley, while

preserving the natural beauty.

     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 from among the

legislators.

     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 February 5, 2019, and said commission shall expire on

May 5, 2019.

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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 AND MAKE

RECOMMENDATIONS TO ENCOURAGE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WITHIN

BLACKSTONE VALLEY

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     This resolution would create an eighteen (18) member special legislative study

commission whose purpose it would be to make a comprehensive study and provide

recommendations to encourage economic development within the Blackstone Valley, and who

would report back to the House of Representatives no later than February 5, 2019, and whose life

would expire on May 5, 2019.

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