2020 -- H 8133

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LC005542

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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 STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- ESTABLISHING A

COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF AFRICAN AMERICANS AND LATINXS

     

     Introduced By: Representative Anastasia P. Williams

     Date Introduced: September 24, 2020

     Referred To: House Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Title 42 of the General Laws entitled "STATE AFFAIRS AND

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GOVERNMENT" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

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CHAPTER 160

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COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF AFRICAN AMERICANS AND LATINXS

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     42-160-1. Short title.

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     This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Commission on the Status of African

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Americans and Latinxs."

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     42-160-2. Creation of commission.

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     There is hereby created and established a permanent commission to be known as the

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"Commission on the Status of African Americans and Latinxs", hereinafter referred to as the

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"commission".

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     42-160-3. Membership of commission.

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     (a) There shall be a permanent commission on the status of African Americans and Latinxs.

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The commission shall consist of eleven (11) members as follows: three (3) persons appointed by

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the governor from a list of not less than five (5) nominees provided by the Providence branch of

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the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People; three (3) persons appointed by

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the president of the senate from a list of not less than five (5) nominees from the Rhode Island

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Black & Latino Legislative Caucus (RILBLC); three (3) persons appointed by the speaker of the

 

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house of representatives from a list of not less than five (5) nominees provided by the Rhode Island

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Black and Latino Legislative Caucus; One person appointed by the minority leader of the senate

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from a list of not less than five (5) nominees from the Providence branch of the National

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Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the Rhode Island Black and Latino

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Legislative Caucus; and one person appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives

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from a list of not less than five (5) nominees from the Providence branch of the National

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Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the Rhode Island Black and Latino

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Legislative Caucus. Members of the commission must be residents of the state who have

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demonstrated a commitment to the African American and the Latinxs community.

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     (b) Members shall serve terms of three (3) years and until their successors are appointed.

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Vacancies in the membership of the commission shall be filled by the original appointing authority

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for the balance of the unexpired term.

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     (c) The commission shall annually elect from among its members a chair, a vice chair, a

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treasurer and any other officers it considers necessary. The members of the commission shall

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receive no compensation for their services; provided, however, that members shall be reimbursed

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for any usual and customary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.

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     42-160-4. Purpose and authority.

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     (a) The commission shall be a resource to the state on issues affecting African Americans

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and Latinxs. A primary function of the commission shall be to make policy recommendations,

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based on research and analysis, to the general assembly and executive agencies that:

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     (1) Ensure African Americans and Latinxs equitably benefit from and have access to

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government services in the same manner as other citizens of the state;

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     (2) Make recommendations to amend laws, policies and practices that have benefited

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citizens of the state to the exclusion of African Americans and Latinxs; and

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     (3) Promote solutions that address the impact of discrimination against African Americans

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and Latinxs.

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     (b) The commission shall:

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     (1) Promote research and be a clearinghouse and source of information on issues pertaining

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to African Americans and Latinxs in the state;

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     (2) Inform the public and leaders of business, education, human services, health care,

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judiciary, state and local governments and the media of the historical and current implications of

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systemic racism on the African American and Latinxs community across the state and the unique

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cultural, social, ethnic, economic and educational issues affecting African Americans and Latinxs

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in the state;

 

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     (3) Serve as a liaison between government and private interest groups with regard to

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matters of unique interest and concern to African Americans and Latinxs in the state;

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     (4) Identify and recommend qualified African Americans and Latinxs for appointive

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positions at all levels of government, including boards and commissions;

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     (5) Assess programs and practices in all state agencies as they affect African Americans

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and Latinxs using a racial equity framework;

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     (6) Advise executive agencies and the general assembly on the potential effect on African

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Americans and Latinxs of proposed legislation and regulations using a racial equity framework;

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     (7) Monitor executive and legislative action purported to eliminate systemic racism for its

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impact on African Americans and Latinxs using a racial equity framework; and

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     (8) Generally undertake activities designed to enable the state to realize the full benefit of

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the skills, talents and cultural heritage of African Americans and Latinxs in the state.

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     42-160-5. Powers of the commission.

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     (a) The powers of the commission shall include, but not be limited to:

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     (1) Employment of a staff to assist in the performance of its duties;

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     (2) Holding regular, public meetings and fact-finding hearings and other public forums as

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necessary;

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     (3) Using the voluntary and uncompensated services of private individuals, agencies and

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organizations that may from time to time be offered and needed, including provision of meeting

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places and refreshments;

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     (4) Establishing and maintaining offices that it considers necessary, subject to

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appropriation;

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     (5) Enacting by-laws for its own governance;

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     (6) Contract or collaborate with academic institutions, private sector consultants or other

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professionals for research and analysis; and

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     (7) Recommending policies and making recommendations to agencies and officers of the

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state and local subdivisions of government to effectuate the purposes of this chapter.

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     (b) The commission may request information and assistance from state agencies as the

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commission requires.

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     42-160-6. Appropriations and disbursements.

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     For fiscal year 2021 the general assembly shall appropriate the sum of two million dollars

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($2,000,000) to carry out the purpose of this chapter, and shall further annually appropriate, out of

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any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated, a sum sufficient to continue to carry out the

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purposes of this chapter; and the state controller is hereby authorized and directed to draw his or

 

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her orders upon the general treasurer for the payment of that sum, or so much thereof as may be

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required from time to time, upon the receipt by him or her of properly authenticated vouchers.

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     (b) The commission may additionally accept and solicit funds, including any gifts,

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donations, grants or bequests or any federal funds for any of the purposes of this chapter.

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     42-160-7. Commission staff.

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     The commission staff shall consist of an executive director, employees and consultants and

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unpaid volunteers who assist the commission in effectuating its statutory purpose. The commission

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shall appoint the executive director for at term of three (3) years.

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     42-160-8. Annual report.

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     Annually, not later than January 2, the commission shall report the results of its findings

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and activities of the preceding year and its recommendations to the governor and to the president

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of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- ESTABLISHING A

COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF AFRICAN AMERICANS AND LATINXS

***

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     This act would establish a permanent commission on the status of African Americans and

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Latinxs. The commission's primary function is to make policy recommendations based on research

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and analysis to ensure African Americans and Latinxs equitably benefit from government services

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and to address the impact of discrimination against African American and Latinx community

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members. It would also provide for an appropriation by the general assembly of two million dollars

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($2,000,000) for fiscal year 2021 and additional sufficient annual appropriations to carry out the

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purpose of this chapter.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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