2020 -- H 8137 | |
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LC005605 | |
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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 AN ELECTED | |
AND APPOINTED MINORITY OFFICIALS COMMISSION | |
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Introduced By: Representative Anastasia P. Williams | |
Date Introduced: October 26, 2020 | |
Referred To: House Special Legislation | |
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: | |
1 | SECTION 1. Title 42 of the General Laws entitled "STATE AFFAIRS AND |
2 | GOVERNMENT" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter: |
3 | CHAPTER 160 |
4 | THE ELECTED AND APPOINTED MINORITY OFFICIALS COMMISSION |
5 | 42-160-1. Short title. |
6 | This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Elected and Appointed Minority |
7 | Officials Commission". |
8 | 42-160-2. Minority defined. |
9 | "Minority" means a person who is a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United |
10 | States and who is: |
11 | (1) Black (a person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa); |
12 | (2) Hispanic (a person of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central or South American, or |
13 | other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race); |
14 | (3) Portuguese (a person of Portuguese, Brazilian, or other Portuguese culture or origin, |
15 | regardless of race); |
16 | (4) Asian American (a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, |
17 | Southeast Asia, the Indian subcontinent, or the Pacific Islands); |
18 | (5) American Indian and Alaskan Native (a person having origins in any of the original |
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1 | peoples of North America; or |
2 | (6) Members of other groups or individuals found to be economically and socially |
3 | disadvantaged by the commission established pursuant to § 42-160-3. |
4 | 42-160-3. Commission established. |
5 | There is hereby created and established a commission to be known as the "Elected and |
6 | Appointed Minority Officials Commission," hereinafter referred to as the "commission". |
7 | 42-160-4. Composition of commission. |
8 | The commission shall consist of thirteen (13) members: one of whom shall be designated |
9 | co-chairperson and shall be appointed by the speaker of the house; one of whom shall be designated |
10 | co-chairperson and shall be appointed by the president of the senate; one of whom shall be |
11 | designated co-chairperson and shall be appointed by the governor. Each co-chairperson shall be a |
12 | distinguished member of the minority community. Each co-chairperson shall select three (3) |
13 | persons to serve on the commission. The secretary of state shall appoint one person to serve on the |
14 | commission. Commission members shall serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority. |
15 | Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment. The commission shall |
16 | serve without compensation. |
17 | 42-160-5. Purpose of commission. |
18 | The purpose of the commission shall be to establish a permanent record of state and |
19 | municipal elected and appointed minority officials holding executive, legislative or judicial office, |
20 | from the founding of this state's original settlement by Roger Williams in 1636 to the present. The |
21 | records shall state the name, position and period of elected or appointed service of each minority |
22 | official. |
23 | 42-160-6. Expenditures. |
24 | The commission may expend such sums of money as may be appropriated from time to |
25 | time by the general assembly to carry out the purpose of this chapter. |
26 | 42-160-7. Access to state archives. |
27 | The commission shall have unrestricted access to the state archives created pursuant to |
28 | chapter 8.1 of title 42. |
29 | 42-160-8. Amendment of record. |
30 | The commission shall establish rules and procedures for any person to petition the |
31 | commission to amend the record of elected and appointed minority officials to include an additional |
32 | elected or appointed minority official as a proper individual for inclusion in the record. |
33 | 42-160-9. Delivery and preservation of record. |
34 | The commission shall deliver to the secretary of state and the state archivist the record of |
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1 | elected and appointed minority officials and all amendments thereto. |
2 | 42-160-10. Publication. |
3 | The secretary of state shall publish on its official website all information provided by the |
4 | commission pursuant to § 42-160-9. |
5 | 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 AN ELECTED | |
AND APPOINTED MINORITY OFFICIALS COMMISSION | |
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1 | This act would create an "Elected and Appointed Minority Officials Commission" to create |
2 | a record of elected and appointed minority officials from the inception of the state as a settlement |
3 | in 1636 by Roger Williams to the present. |
4 | This act would take effect upon passage. |
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