Chapter 103

2006 -- S 2138 SUBSTITUTE B AS AMENDED

Enacted 06/16/06

 

A N  A C T

RELATING TO SEPARATION OF POWERS

     

     

     Introduced By: Senators Connors, Perry, Polisena, and McCaffrey

     Date Introduced: January 24, 2006

 

 

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

 

     SECTION 1. Section 23-4-6 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-4 entitled "Office of

State Medical Examiners" is hereby amended to read as follows:

 

     23-4-6. State medical examiners commission. -- (a) There is established the state

medical examiners commission. The commission shall hear and determine appeals to decisions

by chief medical examiners regarding the undertaking of investigations, inquests, and autopsies,

and shall advise the chief medical examiner on matters of public concern.

      (b) The commission shall consist of fourteen (14) twelve (12) members, ten (10) three

(3) of whom shall be ex officio members, viz., the director of health, the attorney general, the

superintendent of state police, the president of the Rhode Island Medical Society, the president of

the Rhode Island Society of Pathologists, the president of the Rhode Island Bar Association, the

vice president of the Brown University Division of Biological and Medical Sciences, the

president of the Rhode Island Funeral Directors Association, the chair of the Rhode Island house

of representatives H.E.W. committee, the chair of the Rhode Island senate H.E.W. committee, or

the designee of each of the previously mentioned members, and four (4) and nine (9) citizens of

the state to be appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate for the term of

three (3) years. The governor shall give due consideration to any recommendations for

nominations submitted to him or her by the president of the Rhode Island Medical Society, the

president of the Rhode Island Society of Pathologists, the president of the Rhode Island Bar

Association, the vice president of Brown University Division of Biological and Medical Sciences

and the president of the Rhode Island Funeral Directors Association. Each citizen member shall

hold office for the term of his or her appointment and until his or her successor is appointed.

Vacancies for citizen members shall be filled by appointment for the unexpired term only. Any

citizen member of the commission may be removed from office by the governor for cause, upon

notice and opportunity to be heard.

      (c) The director of health and the attorney general shall be the chairperson and vice

chairperson, respectively, of the commission. The chief medical examiner of the office of state

medical examiners shall serve as the executive secretary of the commission, and the expenses of

the commission shall be a responsibility of the department of health. The board may elect from

among its members such other officers as it deems necessary. Seven (7) members of the board

shall constitute a quorum and the vote of a majority of those present and voting shall be required

for action. The commission shall meet at the call of its chairperson and at least four (4) times each

year, the time and the place for each meeting to be fixed by the chairperson.

     (d) Members of the commission shall be removable by the governor pursuant to the

provisions of section 36-1-7 of the general laws and for cause only, and removal solely for

partisan or personal reasons unrelated to capacity or fitness for the office shall be unlawful.

     (e) Within ninety (90) days after the end of each fiscal year, the commission shall

approve and submit an annual report to the governor, the speaker of the house of representatives,

the president of the senate, and the secretary of state, of its activities during that fiscal year. The

report shall provide an operating statement summarizing meetings or hearings held, including

meeting minutes, subjects addressed, decisions rendered, appeals considered and their disposition,

rules or regulations promulgated, studies conducted, policies and plans developed, approved, or

modified, and programs administered or initiated; a consolidated financial statement of all funds

received and expended including the source of the funds, a listing of any staff supported by these

funds, and a summary of any clerical, administrative or technical support received; a summary of

performance during the previous fiscal year including accomplishments, shortcomings and

remedies; a synopsis of hearing, complaints, suspensions, or other legal matters related to the

authority of the commission; a summary of any training courses held pursuant to this chapter; a

briefing on anticipated activities in the upcoming fiscal year; and findings and recommendations

for improvements. The report shall be posted electronically on the websites of the general

assembly and the secretary of state pursuant to the provisions of section 42-20-8.2. The director

of the department of administration shall be responsible for the enforcement of the provisions of

this subsection.

     (f) To conduct a training course for newly appointed and qualified members within six

(6) months of their qualification or designation. The course shall be developed by the chair of the

commission, be approved by the commission, and be conducted by the chair of the commission.

The commission may approve the use of any commission and/or staff members and/or individuals

to assist with training. The training course shall include instruction in the following areas: the

provisions of chapters 42-46, 36-14 and 38-2; and the commission's rules and regulations. The

director of the department of administration shall, within ninety (90) days of the effective date of

this act, prepare and disseminate training materials relating to the provisions of chapters 42-46,

36-14, and 38-2.

 

     SECTION 2. Sections 23-14.1-4 and 23-14.1-5 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-14.1

entitled "Health Professional Loan Repayment Program" is hereby amended to read as follows:

 

     23-14.1-4. Health professional loan repayment board. -- (a) There is created the health

professional loan repayment board, which shall consist of eleven (11) members and is constituted

as follows: one health care consumer, to be appointed by the governor; one member of the Rhode

Island Medical Society appointed by its president; the director of the Rhode Island Health Center

Association; one additional representative of the Rhode Island Health Center Association, or his

or her designee, and appointed by its president; one member of the house of representatives

appointed by the speaker; one member of the senate appointed by the president of the senate; the

dean of the Brown University Medical School, or his or her designee; the dean of the College of

Nursing at the University of Rhode Island, or his or her designee; the executive director of the

Hospital Association of Rhode Island, or his or her designee; the executive director of the Rhode

Island higher education assistance authority, or his or her designee; and the director of health, or

his or her designee. All members shall serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority and shall

receive no compensation for their services.

     (b) The director of health shall serve as chairperson. All meetings shall be called by the

chairperson. the director of the department of health and eight (8) members appointed by the

governor with the advice and consent of the senate. The governor shall give due consideration to

any recommendations for nominations submitted to him by the Rhode Island Medical Society; the

Rhode Island Health Center Association; the dean of the Brown University Medical School; the

dean of the College of Nursing at the University of Rhode Island; the Rhode Island State Nurses'

Association; the Hospital Association of Rhode Island; the Rhode Island higher education

assistance authority. All appointed members shall serve for terms of three (3) years and shall

receive no compensation for their services. Board members shall be eligible to succeed

themselves.

     (b) The director of the department of health shall serve as chairperson. The board shall

elect such other officers as it deems necessary from among its members. All meetings shall be

called by the chairperson.

     (c) Members of the board shall be removable by the governor pursuant to the provisions

of section 36-1-7 of the general laws and for cause only, and removal solely for partisan or

personal reasons unrelated to capacity or fitness for the office shall be unlawful.

 

     23-14.1-5. Duties of the board. -- The board shall:

      (1) Determine which areas of the state shall be eligible to participate in the loan

repayment program each year, based on health professional shortage area designations.

      (2) Receive and consider all applications for loan repayment made by eligible health

professionals.

      (3) Conduct a careful and full investigation of the ability, character, financial needs, and

qualifications of each applicant.

      (4) Consider the intent of the applicant to practice in a health professional shortage area

and to adhere to all the requirements for participation in the loan repayment program.

      (5) Submit to the director a list of those individuals eligible for loan repayment and

amount of loan repayment to be granted.

      (6) Promulgate rules and regulations to ensure an effective implementation and

administration of the program.

     (7) Within ninety (90) days after the end of each fiscal year, the board shall approve and

submit an annual report to the governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, the president

of the senate, and the secretary of state, of its activities during that fiscal year. The report shall

provide: an operating statement summarizing meetings or hearings held, including meeting

minutes, subjects addressed, decisions rendered, applications considered and their disposition,

rules or regulations promulgated, studies conducted, polices and plans developed, approved, or

modified, and programs administered or initiated; a consolidated financial statement of all funds

received and expended including the source of the funds, a listing of any staff supported by these

funds, and a summary of any clerical, administrative or technical support received; a summary of

performance during the previous fiscal year including accomplishments, shortcomings and

remedies; a synopsis of hearings, complaints, suspensions, or other legal matters related to the

committee; a summary of any training courses held pursuant to this chapter; a briefing on

anticipated activities in the upcoming fiscal year, and findings and recommendations for

improvements. The report shall be posted electronically on the websites of the general assembly

and the secretary of state pursuant to the provisions of section 42-20-8.2. The director of the

department of administration shall be responsible for the enforcement of the provisions of this

subsection.

     (8) To conduct a training course for newly appointed and qualified members within six

(6) months of their qualification or designation. The course shall be developed by the chair of the

board, be approved by the board, and be conducted by the chair of the board. The board may

approve the use of any board and/or staff members and/or individuals to assist with training. The

training course shall include instruction in the following areas: the provisions of chapters 42-46,

36-14 and 38-2; and the board's rules and regulations. The director of the department of

administration shall, within ninety (90) days of the effective date of this act, prepare and

disseminate training materials relating to the provisions of chapters 42-46, 36-14, and 38-2.

 

     SECTION 3. Sections 23-27.3-100.1.4 and 23-27.3-100.1.5.1 of the General Laws in

Chapter 23-27.3 entitled "State Building Code" are hereby amended to read as follows:

 

     23-27.3-100.1.4. Appointment and qualifications of the committee. -- (a) The building

code standards committee shall be composed of twenty-five (25) twenty-three (23) members,

residents of the state; twenty-three (23) of whom who shall be appointed by the governor with the

advice and consent of the senate. Eight (8) members are to be appointed for terms of one year

each, seven (7) for a term of two (2) years each, and eight (8) for terms of three (3) years each.

Annually, thereafter, the governor, with the advice and consent of the senate, shall appoint

members to the committee to succeed those whose terms expired; the members to serve for terms

of three (3) years each and until their successors are appointed and qualified. Two (2) members

shall be architects registered in the state; three (3) shall be professional engineers registered in the

state, one specializing in mechanical, one specializing in structural, and one specializing in

electrical engineering; one landscape architect, registered in the state, one full-time certified

electrical inspector; two (2) shall be builders or superintendents of building construction; one

shall be a public health official; one shall be a qualified fire code official; two (2) shall be from

the Rhode Island building trades council; one shall be a holder of Class "A" electrician's license;

one shall be a master plumber; two (2) shall be from the general public; three (3) shall be building

officials in office, one from a municipality with a population of sixty thousand (60,000) persons

or more, one from a municipality with a population of over twenty thousand (20,000) persons but

less than sixty thousand (60,000), and one from a municipality with a population of less than

twenty thousand (20,000) persons; one shall be a member of the state senate, appointed by the

president of the senate, and one shall be a member of the house of representatives, appointed by

the speaker, and one shall be a minimum housing official in office from one of the local

municipalities. Within thirty (30) days of May 25, 1988, the governor shall appoint, with the

advice and consent of the senate, ; and two (2) residents of the state who shall be persons with

disabilities as defined in section 28-5-6(4), . one of whom shall be appointed for a term of one

year, and one of whom shall be appointed for a term of two (2) years. Within thirty (30) days of

May 25, 1988, the governor shall appoint, with the advice and consent of the senate, one

landscape architect in the state who shall be appointed for a term of three (3) years.

      (b) All members, except members of the state senate and the members of the house of

representatives shall have no less than five (5) years practical experience in his or her profession

or business. The committee shall elect its own chairperson and may elect from among its

members such other officers as it deems necessary. Twelve (12) members of the board shall

constitute a quorum and the vote of a majority vote of those present shall be required for action.

The committee shall, and adopt rules and regulations for procedure. The state building

commissioner shall serve as the executive secretary to the committee. The committee shall have

the power, within the limits of appropriations provided therefor, to employ such assistance as may

be necessary to conduct business.

     (c) Members of the commission shall be removable by the governor pursuant to section

36-1-7 of the general laws and for cause only, and removal solely for partisan or personal reasons

unrelated to capacity or fitness for the office shall be unlawful.

      (d) The state housing and property maintenance code subcommittee shall be composed

of nine (9) members, residents of the state. Five (5) of these members are to be current members

of the state building code standards committee and are to be appointed by that committee. The

four (4) remaining members are to be appointed by the governor, with the advice and consent of

the senate. The four (4) appointed by the governor, with the advice and consent of the senate,

shall initially be appointed on a staggered term basis, one for one year, one for two (2) years, and

two (2) for three (3) years. Annually thereafter, the building code standards committee, and the

governor, with the advice and consent of the senate, shall appoint the subcommittee members, for

which they are respectively responsible, to succeed those whose terms have expired; the members

to serve for terms of three (3) years each and until their successors are appointed and qualified. Of

the members appointed by the committee one shall be a full-time certified electrical inspector;

one shall be a master plumber and mechanical equipment expert, one shall be a builder or

superintendent of building construction, one member shall be a qualified state fire code official,

one shall be a property manager, and one shall be a current minimum housing official from a

local municipality. The four (4) members to be appointed by the governor, with the advice and

consent of the senate, shall all be current minimum housing officials from local municipalities.

One shall be from a municipality with a population of sixty thousand (60,000) persons or more,

two (2) from municipalities with a population of over twenty thousand (20,000) persons but less

than sixty thousand (60,000), and one from a municipality with a population of less than twenty

thousand (20,000) persons.

 

     23-27.3-100.1.5.1. Housing and maintenance code -- Powers and duties of the

building code standards committee. -- (a) The committee shall have the authority to adopt and

promulgate a housing and maintenance code which shall be reasonably consistent with

recognized and accepted standards and codes promoted by national model code organizations.

The code shall be submitted to the legislature for adoption and amendments as required. Once

adopted by the legislature, the law shall not be amended by the cities and towns. The committee

shall have the singular authority to submit further amendments to the legislature as required.

These new provisions shall replace, and/or amend the existing provisions of the Minimum

Housing Standards, chapter 24.2 of title 45, and the Housing, Maintenance and Occupancy Code,

chapter 24.3 of title 45. Once adopted by the legislature, the laws shall not be amended by the

cities and towns without prior approval of the committee and subsequently the legislature. The

state housing and property maintenance code subcommittee shall carry out its responsibilities to

the building code standards committee by acting as an entity of the committee in administering

the code, by recommending needed code amendments, by promulgating the code, and by serving

as the board of standards and appeals for the code.

      (b) The subcommittee shall also have a recording secretary who shall attend all meetings

and direct the conduct of any investigation which may be necessary in the preparation of any

hearing. The recording secretary shall be a member of the classified service on the staff of the

state building commissioner and shall be compensated as appropriate for the expertise required.

The administration and appeals procedures pertaining to these laws shall remain in the

prerogatives of the local municipalities and the legislature.

     (c) Within ninety (90) days after the end of each fiscal year, the committee shall approve

and submit an annual report to the governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, the

president of the senate, and the secretary of state, of its activities during that fiscal year. The

report shall provide: an operating statement summarizing meetings or hearings held, including

meeting minutes, subjects addressed, decisions rendered, applications considered and their

disposition, rules or regulations promulgated, studies conducted, polices and plans developed,

approved, or modified, and programs administered or initiated; a consolidated financial statement

of all funds received and expended including the source of the funds, a listing of any staff

supported by these funds, and a summary of any clerical, administrative or technical support

received; a summary of performance during the previous fiscal year including accomplishments,

shortcomings and remedies; a synopsis of hearings, complaints, suspensions, or other legal

matters related to the authority of the committee; a summary of any training courses held

pursuant to this chapter; a briefing on anticipated activities in the upcoming fiscal year, and

findings and recommendations for improvements. The report shall be posted electronically on the

websites of the general assembly and the secretary of state pursuant to the provisions of section

42-20-8.2. The director of the department of administration shall be responsible for the

enforcement of the provisions of this section.

     (d) To conduct a training course for newly appointed and qualified members within six

(6) months of their qualification or designation. The course shall be developed by the chair of the

committee, be approved by the committee, and be conducted by the chair of the committee. The

committee may approve the use of any committee and/or staff members and/or individuals to

assist with training. The training course shall include instruction in the following areas: the

provisions of chapters 42-46, 36-14 and 38-2; and the committee's rules and regulations. The

director of the department of administration shall, within ninety (90) days of the effective date of

this act, prepare and disseminate training materials relating to the provisions of chapters 42-46,

36-14, and 38-2.

 

     SECTION 4. Section 31-13-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-13 entitled "Traffic

Control Devices" is hereby amended to read as follows:

 

     31-13-1. State traffic commission -- Manual of traffic control devices. -- (a) There is

established a state traffic commission consisting of the chairperson and vice chairperson of the

permanent joint committee of the general assembly on highway safety, the superintendent of state

police or his or her designee from within the department of state police, the director of the

department of administration or his or her designee from within the division of motor vehicles,

the director of the department of transportation or his or her designee from within the department

of transportation, or their designees, the president of the Rhode Island Police Chief's Association,

and the governor's representative to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ,and a

member of the public appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate, with

respect to which appointment the governor shall solicit and give due consideration to the

recommendation of the Rhode Island Police Chief’s Association. The commission shall elect from

among the members a chair and such other officers as it deems necessary.

      (b) For the purpose of standardization and uniformity, the commission shall adopt and

cause to be printed for publication a manual of regulations and specifications establishing a

uniform system of traffic control signals, devices, signs, and marking consistent with the

provisions of this chapter for use upon the public highways. The commission shall establish the

traffic regulations under chapters 12 -- 27 of this title. The commission shall meet not less

frequently than monthly. and shall submit an annual report to the governor. The department of

transportation shall provide all staff services and quarters required by the commission.

     (c) Within ninety (90) days after the end of each fiscal year, the commission shall

approve and submit an annual report to the governor, the speaker of the house of representatives,

the president of the senate, and the secretary of state, of its activities during that fiscal year. The

report shall provide: an operating statement summarizing meetings or hearings held, including

meetings minutes, subjects addressed, decisions rendered, applications considered and their

disposition, rules or regulations promulgated, studies conducted, policies and plans developed,

approved, or modified, and programs administered or initiated; a consolidated financial statement

of all funds received and expended including the source of the funds, a listing of any staff

supported by these funds, and a summary of any clerical, administrative or technical support

received; a summary of performance during the previous fiscal year including accomplishments,

shortcomings and remedies; a synopsis of hearings, complaints, suspensions, or other legal

matters related to the authority of the counsel; a summary of any training courses held pursuant to

the provisions of this chapter; a briefing on anticipated activities in the upcoming fiscal year, and

findings and recommendations for improvements. The report shall be posted electronically on the

websites of the general assembly and the secretary of state pursuant to the provisions of section

42-20-8.2. The director of the department of administration shall be responsible for the

enforcement of the provisions of this subsection.

     (d) To conduct a training course for newly appointed and qualified members within six

(6) months of their qualification or designation. The course shall be developed by the chair of the

commission, be approved by the commission, and be conducted by the chair of the commission.

The commission may approve the use of any commission and/or staff members and/or individuals

to assist with training. The training course shall include instruction in the following areas: the

provisions of chapters 42-46, 36-14 and 38-2; and the commission's rules and regulations. The

director of the department of administration shall, within ninety (90) days of the effective date of

this act, prepare and disseminate training materials relating to the provisions of chapters 42-46,

36-14, and 38-2.

 

     SECTION 5. Sections 39-18-2 and 39-18-18 of the General Laws in Chapter 39-18

entitled "Rhode Island Public Transit Authority" are hereby amended to read as follows:

 

     39-18-2. Authority created -- Composition -- Terms -- Oath -- Officers -- Quorum --

Compensation -- Conflicts of interest. -- (a) There is hereby created a body corporate and

politic to be known as the "Rhode Island public transit authority".

      (b) The authority shall consist of seven (7) eight (8) members, four (4) seven (7) of

whom shall be appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate; one shall be a

member of the senate ex officio appointed by the president of the senate, one shall be a member

of the house of representatives ex officio appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives

and one of whom shall be the director of the department of transportation or his or her designee

who shall serve as an ex officio member. The governor shall achieve a diverse membership in the

board and shall give due consideration to recommendations for nominations from the National

Federation of the Blind of Rhode Island, the Gray Panthers of Rhode Island, the Sierra Club of

Rhode Island, the Rhode Island AFL-CIO, the RIPTA Transportation Advisory Committee, and

the Rhode Island business community and the Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns.

Forthwith, upon the enactment of this chapter, the governor, with the advice and consent of the

senate, shall appoint one member to serve until the first day of April, 1965, one member to serve

until the first day of April, 1966, and one member to serve until the first day of April, 1967, and

until their respective successors shall be duly appointed and qualified. Ex officio members shall

serve during their respective terms of office. No one shall be eligible for appointment unless he

or she is a resident of this state.

      (c) In the month of March 1965, and in the months of March annually thereafter, the

governor, with the advice and consent of the senate, shall appoint one member of the authority to

serve for a term of three (3) years to succeed the member whose term will then next expire. On or

before July 1, 1979, the governor with the advice and consent of the senate, shall appoint the

seventh member to serve until the first day of April, 1982 and until his or her respective successor

shall be duly appointed and qualified. Those members of the authority as of the effective date of

this act who were appointed to the authority by members of the board of the general assembly

shall cease to be members of the authority on the effective date of this act, and the governor shall

thereupon nominate two (2) members, each of whom shall serve the balance of the unexpired

term of his or her predecessor. Those members of the authority as of the effective date of this act

who were appointed to the authority by the governor shall continue to serve the balance of their

current terms. Thereafter, during the month of January in each year, the governor shall appoint

members to succeed the departing members. The newly appointed members shall serve for a

term of three (3) years commencing on the day they are qualified. In the event of a vacancy

occurring in the membership, the governor, with the advice and consent of the senate, shall

appoint a member for the unexpired term. Any member of the authority shall be eligible for

reappointment.

      (d) Each member of the authority, before entering upon his or her duties, shall take an

oath to administer the duties of his or her office faithfully and impartially, and the oath shall be

filed in the office of the secretary of state.

      (e) The authority shall elect one of its members as chairperson, and shall also elect a

secretary and such other officers as it deems necessary.

      (f) Four (4) members of the authority shall constitute a quorum. and the vote of four (4)

members The affirmative vote of a majority of the members present and voting shall be necessary

for any action taken by the authority. No vacancy in the membership of the authority shall impair

the right of a quorum to exercise all the rights and perform all the duties of the authority.

      (g) The members of the authority appointed by the governor with the advice and consent

of the senate shall receive twenty-five dollars ($25.00) per day as compensation for attendance at

meetings of the authority, but not to exceed the sum of twenty-five hundred dollars ($2,500)

annually as compensation of each member, such amounts to be payable from the revenue of the

authority. Ex officio members shall receive no compensation, but all members of the authority

shall be reimbursed for their actual expenses necessarily incurred in the performance of their

duties.

      (h) No member of the authority shall be in the employ of, or own any stock in, or be in

any way directly or indirectly pecuniarily interested in any railroad corporation, bus, or street

railway company, nor shall any member of the authority personally or through a partner or agent

render any professional service or make or perform any business contract with or for any

company; nor shall any member of the authority, directly or indirectly, receive a commission,

bonus, discount, present, or reward from any company.

     (i) Members of the authority shall be removable by the governor pursuant to the

provisions of section 36-1-7 of the general laws and for cause only, and removal solely for

partisan or personal reasons unrelated to capacity or fitness for the office shall be unlawful.

     (j) The authority shall conduct a training course for newly appointed and qualified

members within six (6) months of their qualification or designation. The course shall be

developed by the general manager of the authority, be approved by the authority, and be

conducted by the general manager of the authority. The authority may approve the use of any

authority and/or staff members and/or individuals to assist with training. The training course

shall include instruction in the following areas: the provisions of chapters 42-46, 36-14, and 38-2;

and the authority's rules and regulations. The director of the department of administration shall

be responsible for the enforcement of the provisions of this subsection.

 

     39-18-18. Action by resolution -- Reports -- Audits. -- (a) Any action taken by the

authority under the provisions of this chapter may be authorized by resolution at any regular or

special meeting, and each resolution shall take effect immediately and need not be published or

posted.

      (b) In the month of January, the authority shall make an annual report to the governor

and to the general assembly of its activities for the preceding fiscal year. Each report shall set

forth a complete operating and financial statement covering its operations during the year.

Within ninety (90) days after the end of each fiscal year, the authority shall approve and submit

an annual report to the governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the

senate, and the secretary of state, of its activities during that fiscal year. The report shall provide:

an operating statement summarizing meetings or hearings held, including meeting minutes,

subjects addressed, decisions rendered, permits considered and their disposition, rules or

regulations promulgated, studies conducted, polices and plans developed, approved, or modified,

and programs administered or initiated; a consolidated financial statement of all funds received

and expended including the source of the funds, a listing of any staff supported by these funds,

and a summary of any clerical, administrative or technical support received; a summary of

performance during the previous fiscal year including accomplishments, shortcomings and

remedies; a synopsis of hearings, complaints, suspensions, or other legal matters related to the

authority of the authority; a summary of any training courses held pursuant to the provisions of

this chapter; a briefing on anticipated activities in the upcoming fiscal year, and findings and

recommendations for improvements. The report shall be posted electronically on the websites of

the general assembly and the secretary of state pursuant to the provisions of section 42-20-8.2.

The director of the department of administration shall be responsible for the enforcement of the

provisions of this subsection.

     (c) The director of administration shall cause an annual audit of the books, records, and

accounts of the authority to be made and the costs thereof shall be treated as part of the cost of

operation of the authority.

 

     SECTION 6. Severability. If any provision of this act or the application thereof to any

person or circumstances is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions or

applications of the act, which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and

to this end the provisions of this act are declared to be severable.

 

     SECTION 7. This act shall take effect upon passage.

 

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LC00406/2

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