2020 -- H 7757

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LC004521

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2020

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY -- ORGANIZATION OF THE GENERAL

ASSEMBLY

     Introduced By: Representatives Filippi, Place, Newberry, Chippendale, and Nardone

     Date Introduced: February 26, 2020

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Chapter 22-3 of the General Laws entitled "Organization of General

Assembly" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

     22-3-18.1. Telephone and video conference voting.

     For the purposes of receiving and recording the vote of members of the general assembly

in the event the governor declares a state of emergency and pursuant to the rules of the senate and

the house of representatives, the joint committee on legislative services shall provide a process or

procedure for the senate and house of representatives to be available for the use of the members of

the general assembly in casting and recording votes by telephone or video conference.

     SECTION 2. Section 22-11-3.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 22-11 entitled "Joint

Committee on Legislative Services" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     22-11-3.1. Rules and regulations.

     (a) The joint committee on legislative services is authorized and empowered to adopt any

rules and regulations that are deemed necessary to accomplish the purposes of this chapter, a copy

of which rules and regulations shall be filed with the secretary of state and available for public

inspection; provided, that each permanent and continuing office or agency within the legislative

department, established by statute and to which funds are specifically appropriated, will maintain

and be responsible for exercising its own internal financial and personnel controls. In the formation

of these rules and regulations, the joint committee shall take into consideration and conform to,

where practicable, existing policies governing financial and personnel practices within the

executive branch of government.

     (b)(1) The joint committee on legislative services is authorized and empowered to adopt

rules and regulations, consistent with the rules of each house of the general assembly, designed to

provide electronic services and products to its elected members and, incrementally, to make

electronic services and products regarding its proceedings available to the citizens of this state. The

joint committee on legislative services shall prioritize general assembly proceedings and legislative

information to be made incrementally accessible in a timely manner, including:

     (1)(i) A list of all members of the general assembly with their addresses and telephone

numbers and all committees of the general assembly and their members;

     (2)(ii) The history and status of every bill introduced and amended in each current

legislative session;

     (3)(iii) The current calendars of the house and the senate and of all legislative committees;

     (4)(iv) The text of every bill introduced and to be printed in the current legislative session,

including the amended or substitute form of each bill, and the text of every bill as enacted;

     (5)(v) The general laws;

     (6)(vi) The Rhode Island Constitution; and

     (7)(vii) The senate and house journals.

     (2) Pursuant to § 22-3-18.1, the joint committee on legislative services shall adopt rules

and regulations necessary to provide a process or procedure for all members of the general assembly

for casting and recording votes by telephone or video conference in accordance with all quorum

and notice requirements pursuant to the rules of the senate and house of representatives whenever

the governor declares a state of emergency.

     (c) It shall be solely and exclusively within the discretion of the joint committee on

legislative services, when providing access, to include and require, in written contracts for

electronic services and products, provisions that:

     (1) Protect the security and integrity of the information system of the general assembly;

     (2) Limit any potential liability of the general assembly in providing public access to

electronic services and products;

     (3) Ensure that access of non-disclosable information is prohibited;

     (4) Provide protection against intentional or accidental disclosure, modification, or

destruction of records.

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     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 THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY -- ORGANIZATION OF THE GENERAL

ASSEMBLY

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     This act would allow members of the general assembly to cast votes by telephone or video

conference whenever the governor declares a state of emergency.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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