2023 -- H 5727

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LC001769

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY AND PROVIDE

RECOMMENDATIONS TO SAFEGUARD RHODE ISLAND AGAINST NUCLEAR

WEAPONS

     Introduced By: Representatives Sanchez, Henries, Morales, Cruz, Alzate, Batista,
Cotter, Tanzi, Fellela, and Stewart

     Date Introduced: February 17, 2023

     Referred To: House State Government & Elections

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

consisting of eleven (11) members, all of whom shall be United States citizens who are residents

of Rhode Island who credibly reflect the makeup of the State’s population with respect to gender,

and cultural or ancestry background and who shall have publicly applied for membership on the

Commission, and none of whom shall have been a current or former employee of a company

involved in the development, production, or deployment of nuclear weapons; one of whom shall

be appointed by the Speaker of House; one of whom shall be appointed by the President of the

Senate; one of whom shall be the RI Attorney General, or designee; and eight of whom shall be

appointed by the Governor, six of whom shall come from a pool of applicants chosen by the

Friends Committee on National Legislation and who have demonstrated a sincere concern for the

threat of nuclear war and a long-time record of activities focused on the control or abolition of

such weapons, as well as a range of knowledge and expertise in the subjects of weaponry and

international relations.

     The application to serve on the Special Commission shall state:

     (i) The intent of the applicant to comply with and advance the policy established by this

Resolution;

     (ii) The applicant’s interest and interest in serving on the Commission;

     (iii) The city or town in which the applicant resides;

     (iv) The employment or retirement status of the applicant; and

     (v) The applicant’s view of why they would make an important contribution to the work

of the Commission.

     The Governor shall post the appointment opportunity on the official website of the State

within thirty (30) days of the passage of this Resolution, and all applications for service on the

Commission shall be submitted within thirty (30) days of the posting of the appointment

opportunity.

     All appointments to the Commission shall be made no sooner than ninety (90) days nor

later than one hundred twenty (120) days after the passage of this resolution.

     In lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to 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 investigate and report on what measures may

be necessary and appropriate to protect the environment, wildlife, culture, and population of

Rhode Island from the existential threat posed by nuclear weapons and to contribute toward the

total elimination of these weapons under multi-lateral negotiation per the auspices of the

proposed United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons as specifically provided

for in Article 4 of said treaty.

     The Commission shall investigate measures and make recommendations to the

government and people of Rhode Island that may include, but not be limited to, financial,

legislative, or legal measures that may assist or encourage the transition from nuclear weapons-

related jobs and activities taking place within the State to jobs and activities that instead address

the climate crisis and other pressing social needs such as health care, housing, education, and

elimination of poverty and discrimination.

     No later than thirty (30) days after the appointment of the final member on the

commission, the members shall meet and organize and shall elect co-chairpersons by a majority

vote.

     The Commission shall meet on a regular basis to research and gather evidence,

testimony, and advice in the manner that the members of the Commission determine is most

suitable to achieving the purpose of said commission.

     The Commission’s proceedings, meetings, and activities shall be subject to the open

meetings law of the State of Rhode Island.

     The Commission shall hold at least five (5) public hearings in different parts of the State

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to solicit testimony from the public and to inform citizens and legislators about the humanitarian

consequences to the State resulting from the use of nuclear weapons including the targeting of

Quonset Point during a hypothetical nuclear war and potential diplomatic breakthroughs resulting

from entry into force of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. The topics of

employment, technologies, and industries within the State devoted to both nuclear weapons and

climate change shall be addressed. All members of the Rhode Island public will be given a

reasonable opportunity to offer their views and ideas related to the subjects under examination by

the Commission.

     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 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, if any,

together with drafts of legislation necessary to carry its recommendations into effect, to the

General Assembly, the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General and all members of the

Rhode Island Congressional Delegation, as well as to the press and the general public, no later

than August 6, 2024, and said commission shall expire on November 6, 2024.

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LC001769

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY AND PROVIDE

RECOMMENDATIONS TO SAFEGUARD RHODE ISLAND AGAINST NUCLEAR

WEAPONS

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     This resolution creates an eleven (11) member special legislative commission to study

and provide recommendation to safeguard Rhode Island against nuclear weapons.

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LC001769

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