RESOLVED, That a special senate commission be and the same is hereby created consisting of seventeen (17) members: four (4) of whom shall be members of the senate, not more than two (2) of whom shall be from the same political party, to be appointed by the senate majority leader; one (1) of whom shall be the director of the department of health, or designee; one (1) of whom shall be the director of human services, or designee; one (1) of whom shall be the director of the department of children, youth and families, or designee; one (1) of whom shall be the director of mental health, retardation and hospitals, or designee; one (1) of whom shall be the commissioner of elementary and secondary education, or designee; two (2) of whom shall be representatives of a community-based health center associated with a school-based health center, to be appointed by the senate majority leader; one (1) of whom shall be a representative of the association of health maintenance organizations, to be appointed by the senate majority leader; one (1) of whom shall be a representative of the Rhode Island Association of Community Health Centers, to be appointed by the senate majority leader; two (2) of whom shall be representatives of health insurance companies, to be appointed by the senate majority leader, one (1) of whom shall be a representative of the school-based health center assembly, one (1) of whom shall represent a school district which has a school-based health center.

In lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to a permanent advisory commission, 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 appointment of the member of the general public.

The purpose of said commission shall be:

(1) to work towards the implementation of recommendations made as a result of the senate commission on school-based health centers established in 1999 with a report issued May, 2001;

(2) to continue to work on long-term funding strategies in order to ensure adequate financial support for school-based health centers, including the relationship to RIte Care;

(3) to study the relationship of school-based health centers to other school health initiatives and to integrated services initiatives; and

(4) to study the relationship and potential integration of behavioral health services and substance abuse services to school-based health centers.

Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall meet at the call of the senate majority leader and organize and shall select from among the legislators a chairperson. 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 senate majority leader is hereby authorized and directed to provide suitable quarters for said commission; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the commission shall be ongoing through December 2004, with annual updates to the senate majority leader.