2022 -- H 7468 SUBSTITUTE A

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- BLACK REGIMENT

MONUMENT COMMISSION

     Introduced By: Representatives McGaw, Carson, Cortvriend, Abney, Donovan,
Williams, Cassar, Ruggiero, Alzate, and Felix

     Date Introduced: February 11, 2022

     Referred To: House Municipal Government & Housing

     (by request)

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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

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

CHAPTER 77.2

BLACK REGIMENT MONUMENT COMMISSION

     42-77.2-1. Establishment - Purpose.

     There is established the Black Regiment Monument Commission, whose purpose and

function shall be to keep the memory of the Black Regiment alive and to ensure the proper upkeep

and maintenance of the Black Regiment Monument and surrounding park grounds.

     42-77.2-2. Membership and annual reports.

     (a) The commission shall be comprised of four (4) members:

     (1) The president of the Portsmouth town council, or designee member of the Portsmouth

town council;

     (2) The director of the Rhode Island department of environmental management, or

designee;

     (3) The president of the Newport County Branch - NAACP, or designee/member; and

     (4) The director of the office of veterans' services, or designee.

     (b) The commission shall elect a chair, vice-chair, and a secretary on a biennial basis.

     (c) Commission members shall be appointed initially for three (3) year terms and shall be

subject to reappointment or replacement every three (3) years by their appointing bodies. Vacancies

shall be filled by their appropriate appointing bodies as necessary in accordance with membership

demographics.

     (d) The commission shall meet at least two (2) times per year, maintain minutes of

meetings, comply with open meetings laws and standards, and submit an annual report to the

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

     42-77.2-3. Duties of commission.

     The duties of the commission shall be:

     (1) The commission shall establish standards and procedures consistent with its purpose

and function.

     (2) The commission shall approve of the use of the monument and grounds at Patriots Park,

including all ceremonies, commemorations, lectures, presentations, reenactment, signage,

adornments, and the like.

     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 -- BLACK REGIMENT

MONUMENT COMMISSION

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     This act would establish the Black Regiment Monument Commission to maintain the Black

Regiment Monument located in Patriots Park in Portsmouth, and its surrounding grounds while

promoting the commemoration of the Black Regiment.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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