2018 -- S 2960

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LC005586

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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 CONDUCT A

COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING THE

APPROPRIATE STATE AGENCY TO HOUSE ADULT EDUCATION

     Introduced By: Senator Harold M. Metts

     Date Introduced: June 07, 2018

     Referred To: Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar

     WHEREAS, The state agency with authority over adult education in Rhode Island is the

Department of Elementary and Secondary Education; and

     WHEREAS, Adult learners usually have multi-level responsibilities, including work and

family; and

     WHEREAS, Adult learners have different needs and goals from traditional adolescents in

the K-12 system; and

     WHEREAS, Adult learners are also more likely to have been away from the classroom

for a significant period of time and require unique resources to bring them to the level of

competency that will enable their successful completion of the GED; and

     WHEREAS, A recent study of LaGuardia Community College at the City University of

New York and Northeast Wisconsin College in Green Bay, Wisconsin, showed that adults who

attended Bridge GED programs were 20 percent more likely to complete GED classes and exams

and to enroll in higher education courses; and

     WHEREAS, While the majority of states house adult education within their Departments

of Education that are responsible for grades K – 12, a number of other states have placed adult

education in different state agencies; and

     WHEREAS, Nineteen states house adult education in either the Department of Higher

Education, the Department of Labor or Workforce Development, or the Department of

Community and Technical Colleges; 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 Rhode Island

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 Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education, or

designee; one of whom shall be the Commissioner of Postsecondary Education, or designee; one

of whom shall be the Director of Labor and Training, or designee; one of whom shall be the

Executive Director of the Governor's Workforce Board, or designee; one of whom shall be the

President of the Community College of Rhode Island, or designee; one of whom shall be an adult

education provider that offers GED courses, to be appointed by the President of the Senate; one

of whom shall be an adult education provider of English for Speakers of Other Languages, to be

appointed by the President of the Senate; one of whom shall be the Director of the Department of

Corrections, or designee; one of whom shall be a representative of the RI Resource Hub or a

similar organization committed to connecting adults with educational opportunities, to be

appointed by the President of the Senate; and one of whom shall be a current or former recipient

of adult education in Rhode Island, to be appointed by the President of the Senate.

     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 Senate President or the Minority Leader of the political party that

is entitled to the appointment consents to the appointment of the member of the general public.

     The purpose of the said commission shall be to conduct a comprehensive review and

make recommendations regarding the appropriate state agency to house adult education.

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

the call of the Chair, who shall be appointed by the President of the Senate.

     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 or 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

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     RESOLVED, That the commission shall report its findings and recommendations to the

President of the Senate on or before March 1, 2019, and said commission shall expire on July 1,

2019.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO CONDUCT A

COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING THE

APPROPRIATE STATE AGENCY TO HOUSE ADULT EDUCATION

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     This resolution would create a thirteen (13) member special legislative study commission

whose purpose it would be to conduct a comprehensive review and make recommendations

regarding the appropriate state agency to house adult education, and who would report back to the

Senate no later than March 1, 2019, and whose life would expire on July 1, 2019.

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LC005586

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