2020 -- H 7409

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LC003216

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2020

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J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY AND MAKE

RECOMMENDATIONS TO REDUCE DUPLICATION BETWEEN STATE DEPARTMENTS

AND WITH MUNICIPALITIES

     Introduced By: Representatives Shanley, and Barros

     Date Introduced: January 31, 2020

     Referred To: House Special Legislation

     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, 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 Secretary of State, or

designee; one of whom shall be the Director of the Department of Health, or designee; one of

whom shall be the Director of the Department of Administration, or designee; one of whom shall

be the Executive Director of the Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns, or designee; one of

whom shall be a city/town clerk, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; one of whom shall

be a city/town finance director, to be appointed by the President of the Senate; and one of whom

shall be the Chairperson of the Board of Elections, 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.

     The purpose of said commission shall be to make a comprehensive study and frame

recommendations that would consolidate, realign, and/or reduce duplication between state

departments and municipalities in order to improve efficiency and produce financial and/or time-

related benefits to the state, municipalities, and taxpayers. The centralization of services (“shared

services”), the transfer of responsibility for municipal services to a state or regional authority and

consolidation efforts targeting local services whose costs can be reduced substantially without

sacrificing quality would include, but not be limited to, primary areas concentration including:

     (1) Centralizing the recording of deeds through the Secretary of State's office and the tax

rolls through the Department of Administration;

     (2) Duplication, storage, man-power, equipment, office space, backup of birth and death

records, and enhancing online birth certificate process; and

     (3) Consolidating voter registration in municipalities and the DMV through the Secretary

of State office.

     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 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

General Assembly no later than February 7, 2021, and said commission shall expire on April 7,

2021.

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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 LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY AND MAKE

RECOMMENDATIONS TO REDUCE DUPLICATION BETWEEN STATE DEPARTMENTS

AND WITH MUNICIPALITIES

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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 and provide recommendations to

reduce duplication of efforts between state departments and municipalities, and who would report

back to the General Assembly no later than February 7, 2021, and whose life would expire on

April 7, 2021.

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