2020 -- S 2432

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LC004476

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2020

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY THE POTENTIAL

BENEFITS OF A WORKERS' COOPERATIVE

     Introduced By: Senators Cano, Nesselbush, Euer, Goldin, and Conley

     Date Introduced: February 13, 2020

     Referred To: Senate Labor

     RESOLVED, That a special legislative commission be and the same is hereby created

consisting of five (5) members: two (2) of whom shall be members of the Senate, not more than

one from the same political party, to be appointed by the President of the Senate; one of whom

shall be the Director of Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training, or designee; one of

whom shall be the Rhode Island Secretary of State, or designee; and one of whom shall be the

Rhode Island General Treasurer, 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; provided that, the majority leader or the minority leader of the political party

which is entitled to the appointment consents to the member of the general public.

     The purpose of said commission shall be to make a comprehensive study of the potential

benefits of a workers' cooperative to the Rhode Island economy, as defined in Chapter 7-6.2 of

the Rhode Island General Laws, and make such recommendations and findings as it deems

appropriate regarding mechanisms to support and fund such entities in the state to maximize their

positive economic impact.

     Areas of research are to include, but not limited to:

     (1) Studies of implementations in other states, and countries including, but not limited to:

Canada, Spain, Italy, France, Colombia;

     (2) Survey areas of need and opportunities in Rhode Island, which could be met by

workers cooperatives;

     (3) Identification of initiatives, which would be specifically applicable to Rhode Island;

     (4) Cataloging of Federal and interstate resources that would be available to support the

formation of cooperatives in Rhode Island;

     (5) Catalog sources of startup and conversion funding available from within Rhode Island

and from out of state;

     (6) Possible Rhode Island “Anchor Institutions” and their potential for support of local

worker cooperative formation;

     (7) Investigate the possible benefits of developing a cooperative business curriculum at

state educational institutions; and

     (8) Examine the feasibility of setting up an “Office of Employee Ownership.”

     Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall meet at

the call of the President of the Senate and organize and shall select a chairperson from among the

legislators.

     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 commission shall seek input from the general public through at least one publicized

open meeting.

     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

President of the Senate, and shall be made available to the general public, no later than June 1,

2021, and said commission shall expire on January 7, 2022.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY THE POTENTIAL

BENEFITS OF A WORKERS' COOPERATIVE

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     This resolution would create a five (5) member special legislative study commission

whose purpose it would be to study the potential benefits of a workers' cooperative system, and

who would report back to the Senate no later than June 1, 2021, and whose life would expire on

January 7, 2022.

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LC004476

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