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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2021

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

RESPECTFULLY RECOMMENDING THAT THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF EACH

RHODE ISLAND CITY AND TOWN CREATE AN INDEPENDENT FIVE PERSON

COMMISSION TO ENSURE THAT ANY AND ALL FEDERAL MONIES RECEIVED BY

THE CITIES AND TOWNS IN THE FORTHCOMING COVID-19 RELIEF PACKAGE ARE

ADMINISTERED WISELY, FAIRLY, HONESTLY AND WITH TRANSPARENCY

     Introduced By: Representatives Barros, Shanley, Ruggiero, Batista, Alzate, Giraldo,
Kislak, Cassar, Potter, and Baginski

     Date Introduced: March 11, 2021

     Referred To: House Municipal Government & Housing

     WHEREAS, The President of the United States and his administration, and leaders of the

United States Congress, are currently in the process of negotiating a COVID-19 stimulus Bill

that, according to news reports, reach two or more trillion dollars and offer relief to both State

Governments and local City and Town governments; and

     WHEREAS, The United States House of Representatives recently passed a COVID-19

aid package, The American Rescue Plan, that would provide the State of Rhode Island with

almost 1.7 billion dollars in aid, with 1.1 billion going to the State and the rest of the funds being

distributed to Rhode Island’s Cities and Towns; and

     WHEREAS, Given the magnitude of the suffering COVID-19 has caused, and the

immense need for assistance that exists throughout the country in all layers of our society, it is

more important than ever that all funds received by Rhode Island’s local Cities and Towns be

administered and distributed with transparency, and in a manner that guarantees the honesty and

integrity of the entire process; and

     WHEREAS, One of the ways this objective can be accomplished would be to recommend

that each of Rhode Island’s Cities and Towns creates a five member commission appointed by

each City or Town’s Chief Executive Officer that would be responsible for oversight to ensure

accountability and transparency and to make sure that the entire process is completely open to the

public and members of the media. It is recommended that each local commission should consist

of five members, one of whom to be a Mayor or CEO of a Rhode Island City or Town, two of

whom to be members of Rhode Island City/Town Councils, and two members of the Rhode

Island general public; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby

respectfully recommends that the Chief Executive Officer of each Rhode Island City and Town

appoint a five person independent commission charged with the duty and responsibility of

providing oversight and accountability to the process of how the Federal COVID-19 Relief assets

are distributed; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the Honorable Daniel McKee, Governor of the

State of Rhode Island.

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