2018 -- S 2436

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LC004508

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2018

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY THE NEED AND/OR

FEASIBILITY OF IMPLEMENTING A PUBLICLY FUNDED CAMPAIGN OPTION FOR

GENERAL ASSEMBLY CANDIDATES

     Introduced By: Senators Sheehan, Jabour, Kettle, Nesselbush, and Calkin

     Date Introduced: February 15, 2018

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     WHEREAS, Nationwide, some states allow candidates to use public funds while

campaigning for state offices. In order to receive these public funds for their campaigns,

candidates must meet state requirements and agree to adhere to certain restrictions and spending

limits. The methods of collecting and distributing funds for these public financing programs vary

widely; and

     WHEREAS, According to Section 10 of the Rhode Island Constitution, entitled

"Limitations on campaign contributions - Public financing of campaign expenditures of general

officers" "The general assembly shall adopt limitations on all contributions to candidates for

election to state and local office in any primary, general or special election and shall provide for

the adoption of a plan of voluntary public financing and limitations on total campaign

expenditures of campaigns for governor and such other general officers as the general assembly

shall specify"; and

     WHEREAS, In addition, chapter 25 of title 17, of the Rhode Island General Laws states

that candidates for Rhode Island statewide offices (governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of

state, general treasurer or attorney general) may apply for and qualify to use public funds with

certain requirements and restrictions; and

     WHEREAS, Thus, currently in Rhode Island, General Assembly members do not qualify

for a public campaign financing option; now, therefore be it

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

consisting of seven (7) members; three (3) of whom shall be members of the Senate, not more

than two (2) form the same political party, to be appointed by the President of the Senate; one of

whom shall be the Executive Director of the Board of Elections, or designee; one of whom shall

be the Attorney General, or designee; one of whom shall be the Secretary of State, or designee;

and one of whom shall be the President of Rhode Island Common Cause, or designee.

     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 consent to the member of the general public.

     The purpose of said commission shall be to study the need and/or feasibility of enacting

and implementing a public campaign financing option for General Assembly candidates.

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

the call of the President of the Senate and organize and shall select, from among the legislators, a

chairperson.

     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

Senate no later than February 5, 2019, and said commission shall expire on May 5, 2019.

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LC004508

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