2022 -- H 8124

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LC005703

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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 EDUCATION -- UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND

     Introduced By: Representatives Fogarty, McEntee, McGaw, Tanzi, Carson, Speakman,
Ranglin-Vassell, Donovan, Amore, and Craven

     Date Introduced: April 08, 2022

     Referred To: House State Government & Elections

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 16-32-2.2 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-32 entitled "University

of Rhode Island [See Title 16 Chapter 97 - The Rhode Island Board of Education Act]" is hereby

amended to read as follows:

     16-32-2.2. Appointment and removal of the board of trustees.

     (a) There is hereby established a board of trustees for the university of Rhode Island

consisting of seventeen (17) members. The governor shall appoint the initial members, with the

advice and consent of the senate, to serve on the board of trustees, until the expiration of their term

and their successor is appointed. In making these appointments the governor shall give due

consideration to recommendations from the president of the university of Rhode Island and at least

three (3) of those members appointed by the governor shall be residents of the state of Rhode Island,

at least one of those members shall be selected from a list of names of at least five (5) individuals

submitted by the speaker of the house of representatives, and at least one of those members shall

be selected from a list of names of at least five (5) individuals submitted by the president of the

senate. In addition, the president of the university of Rhode Island shall appoint one faculty member

and one student member who shall be a full-time student in good standing at the university and

who shall both serve in a non-voting, ex officio capacity for a single two (2) year term. The

president of the university of Rhode Island, the chair of the board of education and the chair of the

council on postsecondary education shall serve in a non-voting, ex-officio capacity on the board of

trustees. Six (6) of the members initially appointed pursuant to this section shall serve terms of

three (3) years; seven (7) members initially appointed pursuant to this section shall serve terms of

two (2) years, including the member appointed from the list submitted by the speaker of the house

of representatives and the member appointed from the list submitted by the president of the senate;

and, four (4) members initially appointed pursuant to this section shall serve terms of one year.

Thirteen (13) A majority of voting members of the board shall constitute a quorum and the vote of

a majority of those present and voting shall be required for action.

     (b) After the initial terms of appointment have expired, the governor shall appoint nine (9)

seventeen (17) members with the advice and consent of the senate to serve as members of the board

of trustees with three (3) members appointed for a term of three (3) years; with three (3) members

appointed for a term of two (2) years, including the member appointed from the list submitted by

the speaker of the house of representatives and the member appointed from the list submitted by

the president of the senate; and with three (3) members appointed for a term of one year and shall

be eligible to be reappointed to a term of two (2) years. In making these appointments the governor

shall give due consideration to recommendations from the president of the university and the chair

of the board of trustees of the university of Rhode Island and at least three (3) of those members

appointed by the governor shall be residents of the state of Rhode Island, at least one of those

members shall be selected from a list of names of at least five (5) individuals submitted by the

speaker of the house of representatives, and at least one of those members shall be selected from a

list of names of at least five (5) individuals submitted by the president of the senate. The remaining

eight (8) voting members shall be self-perpetuating members appointed by the board pursuant to

rules adopted by the board regarding the nomination and appointment of members and shall serve

terms as defined by the board pursuant to the adopted rules and be eligible for reappointment. In

making these appointments the board shall give due consideration to recommendations from the

president of the university of Rhode Island. All members shall be appointed for a term of three (3)

years and shall be eligible for reappointment. In addition, the president of the university of Rhode

Island shall appoint one faculty member and one student member who shall be a full-time student

in good standing at the university and who shall both serve in a non-voting, ex officio capacity.

The faculty member shall serve for a single two (2) year term. The student member shall serve for

up to two (2) one-year terms. The president of the university of Rhode Island, the chair of the board

of education and the chair of the council on postsecondary education shall serve in a non-voting,

ex officio capacity of the board of trustees.

     (c) A majority of the board shall elect the chair of the board from among the seventeen (17)

voting board members pursuant to rules and regulations adopted by the board establishing the

procedure for electing a chair.

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     (d) Public members Members of the board shall be removable by the appointing authority

of the member governor for cause only (including, but not limited to, for repeated failure to attend

meetings), and removal solely for partisan or personal reasons unrelated to capacity or fitness for

the office shall be unlawful. In making decisions to remove a member, the governor shall give due

consideration to recommendations from the chair of the board of trustees of the university of Rhode

Island. No removal shall be made for any cause except after ten (10) days' notice in writing of

specific charges, with opportunity for the member to be present in person and with counsel at a

public hearing before the appointing authority, to introduce witnesses and documentary evidence

in his or her own defense, and to confront and cross-examine adversary witnesses; and appeal shall

lie to the superior court from the governor's determination.

     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 EDUCATION -- UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND

***

     This act would modify the process for the appointment and removal of the university of

Rhode Island's board of trustees. The act would transfer all appointments to the governor subject

to the advice and consent of the senate to serve on the board for terms of three (3) years. The act

would also allow the president of the university of Rhode Island to appoint one faculty member

and one student in non-voting, ex officio capacities.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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