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

     

     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:

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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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THE ELECTED AND APPOINTED MINORITY OFFICIALS COMMISSION

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     42-160-1. Short title.

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     This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Elected and Appointed Minority

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Officials Commission".

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     42-160-2. Minority defined.

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     "Minority" means a person who is a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United

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States and who is:

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     (1) Black (a person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa);

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     (2) Hispanic (a person of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central or South American, or

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other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race);

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     (3) Portuguese (a person of Portuguese, Brazilian, or other Portuguese culture or origin,

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regardless of race);

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     (4) Asian American (a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East,

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Southeast Asia, the Indian subcontinent, or the Pacific Islands);

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     (5) American Indian and Alaskan Native (a person having origins in any of the original

 

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peoples of North America; or

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     (6) Members of other groups or individuals found to be economically and socially

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disadvantaged by the commission established pursuant to § 42-160-3.

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     42-160-3. Commission established.

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

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Appointed Minority Officials Commission," hereinafter referred to as the "commission".

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     42-160-4. Composition of commission.

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     The commission shall consist of thirteen (13) members: one of whom shall be designated

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co-chairperson and shall be appointed by the speaker of the house; one of whom shall be designated

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co-chairperson and shall be appointed by the president of the senate; one of whom shall be

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designated co-chairperson and shall be appointed by the governor. Each co-chairperson shall be a

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distinguished member of the minority community. Each co-chairperson shall select three (3)

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persons to serve on the commission. The secretary of state shall appoint one person to serve on the

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commission. Commission members shall serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority.

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Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment. The commission shall

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serve without compensation.

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     42-160-5. Purpose of commission.

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     The purpose of the commission shall be to establish a permanent record of state and

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municipal elected and appointed minority officials holding executive, legislative or judicial office,

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from the founding of this state's original settlement by Roger Williams in 1636 to the present. The

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records shall state the name, position and period of elected or appointed service of each minority

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official.

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     42-160-6. Expenditures.

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     The commission may expend such sums of money as may be appropriated from time to

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time by the general assembly to carry out the purpose of this chapter.

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     42-160-7. Access to state archives.

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     The commission shall have unrestricted access to the state archives created pursuant to

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chapter 8.1 of title 42.

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     42-160-8. Amendment of record.

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     The commission shall establish rules and procedures for any person to petition the

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commission to amend the record of elected and appointed minority officials to include an additional

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elected or appointed minority official as a proper individual for inclusion in the record.

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     42-160-9. Delivery and preservation of record.

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     The commission shall deliver to the secretary of state and the state archivist the record of

 

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elected and appointed minority officials and all amendments thereto.

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     42-160-10. Publication.

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     The secretary of state shall publish on its official website all information provided by the

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commission pursuant to § 42-160-9.

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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 AN ELECTED

AND APPOINTED MINORITY OFFICIALS COMMISSION

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     This act would create an "Elected and Appointed Minority Officials Commission" to create

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a record of elected and appointed minority officials from the inception of the state as a settlement

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in 1636 by Roger Williams to the present.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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