2018 -- S 2685

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LC004456

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2018

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO PUBLIC FINANCE - STATE BUDGET

     Introduced By: Senators Pearson, Seveney, DiPalma, Conley, and Felag

     Date Introduced: March 20, 2018

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Sections 35-3-9 of the General Laws in Chapter 35-3 entitled "State

Budget" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     35-3-9. Action on bills by house committee -- Hearings. Action on bills by house and

senate committees -- Hearings.

     (a) The budget plan and bill or bills for proposed appropriations, when sent by the

governor to the general assembly, shall be referred as soon as practicable to an the appropriate

committee committees of the house of representatives and the senate, and the committee house

and senate committees shall forthwith proceed to the consideration of the bill. The committee

committees shall hear the budget officer upon the bill as a whole or upon any item thereof or any

proposed amendment thereto as each may elect, and the committee committees may summon the

budget officer to appear before it and to furnish such information relative to the bill or any item

therein, or any proposed amendment thereto, as it may require, and the committee committees

may in its their discretion hear the proper person representing any department or agency desiring

to be heard with respect to any item or amendment in the bill relating to the department or

agency; provided, that nothing contained in this section shall be construed to limit the right of the

committee committees to hold public hearings upon the bill as a whole or upon any item therein,

or to summon any person for examination regarding any item contained therein, or for the

purpose of obtaining information necessary for a full and proper consideration of the bill. The

committee house and senate committees, after the consideration of the bill, shall report the bill

with its recommendation endorsed thereon to the house of representatives respective house and

senate chambers for a full vote.

     (b) If, upon consideration by the house of representatives and the senate, there are

differences in the final budget that cannot be agreed upon, then a budget conference committee

shall be formed to review only the areas of the budget which differ. The joint conference

committee shall consist of three (3) members of the house to be appointed by the house finance

committee and three (3) members of the senate to be appointed by the senate finance committee.

The committee shall vote to approve a conference report which shall require four (4) votes in the

affirmative inclusive of two (2) votes from each chamber to be issued without the possibility of

amendments to the full body of the house and senate for a final vote. Once approved by both

chambers the budget shall be amended by the conference report and be considered passed in

concurrence and shall then be transmitted to the governor for signature or veto.

     SECTION 2. Sections 35-3-10 and 35-3-11 of the General Laws in Chapter 35-3 entitled

"State Budget" are hereby repealed.

     35-3-10. Consideration of bill by senate committee.

     The bill, after passage by the house of representatives in its original form as transmitted

by the governor, or as amended by the house, shall be transmitted to and received by the senate in

the same manner as other bills are transmitted and received, and, upon receipt thereof by the

senate, it shall forthwith be referred to an appropriate committee, which shall proceed to the

consideration of the bill in the manner as provided in § 35-3-9 for the consideration of the bill by

the committee of the house of representatives.

     35-3-11. Consideration of budget by senate.

     The bill, with the endorsement of the committee of the senate thereon, shall be considered

by the senate in accordance with the joint rules and orders and rules of the senate, and may be

amended in such manner as the senate may determine.

     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO PUBLIC FINANCE - STATE BUDGET

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     This act would amend the process by which the house and senate consider and amend the

state budget.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC004456

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