2023 -- S 0757

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LC002353

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- SMALL BUSINESS

ADVOCACY COUNCIL

     Introduced By: Senators Burke, McKenney, and Tikoian

     Date Introduced: March 23, 2023

     Referred To: Senate Commerce

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 42-91-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-91 entitled "Small

Business Advocacy Council" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     42-91-2. Membership of council.

     (a) The council shall consist of twenty (20) members, ten (10) thirteen (13) of whom shall

be public members, two (2) to be appointed by the governor, two (2) three (3) by the lieutenant

governor, two (2) three (3) by the speaker of the house, two (2) three (3) by the president of the

senate, one by the secretary of state, and one by the general treasurer; provided, however, that all

of the public members shall be officers, partners, or proprietors of Rhode Island companies that are

small businesses or nonprofit corporations as defined by the United States Small Business

Administration; one of whom shall be affiliated with a business-related department of a Rhode

Island institution of higher learning, to be appointed by the lieutenant governor; one of whom shall

be a minority party member of the joint committee on small business, to be appointed by the speaker

of the house; one of whom shall be affiliated with a nonprofit corporation, to be appointed by the

lieutenant governor; one of whom shall be affiliated with a nonprofit corporation, to be appointed

by the speaker of the house; one of whom shall be affiliated with a nonprofit organization, to be

appointed by the president of the senate; one of whom shall be a member of the governor’s staff,

to be appointed by the governor; and the chairperson of the joint committee on small business, ex

officio; the vice-chairperson of the joint committee on small business, ex officio; the director of the

Rhode Island economic development corporation and the secretary of Rhode Island commerce, or

the director’s secretary's permanent designee, ex officio; the director of the department of labor and

training, or the director’s permanent designee, ex officio; the secretary of state, or the secretary’s

permanent designee, ex officio; the general treasurer, or the treasurer’s permanent designee, ex

officio; and the lieutenant governor, ex officio. The lieutenant governor shall serve as chairperson

of the council.

     (b) One of the public members appointed by each of the appointing authorities shall be

appointed to serve until the first day of June, 1987, and the other to serve until the first day of June,

1988; and all members shall serve until their successors are appointed and qualified. In the month

of May in any year in which a public member’s term of office expires, the respective appointing

authorities shall appoint successors to the members whose terms shall expire in that year, to hold

office commencing on the first day of June in the year of appointment for a term of three (3) years

or until their respective successors are appointed and qualified. Any vacancy of an appointed

member, which may occur in the council shall be filled by appointment by the respective appointing

authority for the remainder of the unexpired term. Ex-officio members shall serve until the end of

their term of office; the member of the governor’s staff shall serve until the end of the governor’s

term of office.

     (c) The council shall meet at the call of the lieutenant governor and shall elect from among

themselves a vice-chairperson, who shall be one of the public members, and a secretary. The

council shall meet at least quarterly during each calendar year.

     (d) The membership shall receive no compensation for their services. The council may

request, through the department of economic development, any clerical and technical assistance it

may deem necessary to accomplish its purpose.

     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 -- SMALL BUSINESS

ADVOCACY COUNCIL

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     This act would amend the composition of the small business advocacy council to

permanently provide for the vacancy of three (3) unappointed seats.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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