Chapter 491
2013 -- H 6070 SUBSTITUTE B
Enacted 07/16/13
A N A C T
RELATING TO
STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT - COUNCIL OF ECONOMIC
ADVISORS
Introduced
By: Representatives Walsh, Tomasso, Winfield,
Tanzi, and
Date Introduced: May 01, 2013
It is enacted by the
General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Findings and purpose.
WHEREAS, There is a need for state governments to generate data and
information to
use in policy analysis; and
WHEREAS, The state of
information about the state and the economy; and
WHEREAS, The state of
information; and
WHEREAS, There is a need
for sound economic policy analysis to better understand the
economy within the state and how the state’s economy
interacts with other areas and regions; and
WHEREAS,
evaluation and better understanding of the economic conditions
facing the state; and
RESOLVED,
That the state should and by this legislation shall
create the organization
that will be responsible for the collection of economic
data and preparation of economic analysis.
SECTION 2. Title 42 of the General Laws entitled "STATE
AFFAIRS AND
GOVERNMENT" is hereby
amended by adding thereto the following chapter:
CHAPTER
64.18
COUNCIL
OF ECONOMIC ADVISORS
42-64.18-1.
Council of economic advisors established. -- There is hereby
established a council of economic advisors who shall consist of
the following nine (9) members
appointed by the governor:
(1) The following
shall be ex-officio members:
(i)(A) The executive director of the economic development
corporation until such time
that the secretary of commerce is appointed;
(B) Upon his or her
appointment, the secretary of commerce;
(ii) Director of the
office of management and budget;
(iii) A
representative from the office of revenue analysis;
(iv)
Director of labor management information systems;
(2) In addition to
the four ex-officio members, there shall be five (5) public members
selected by the governor.
(3) The five (5)
public members selected by the governor shall be selected based upon
specific experience in economics, research and related
training. The governor may seek
recommendations from both public and private institutions of higher
education and other
organizations within the state.
42-64.18-2.
Purpose and charge to the council. -- The council shall:
(1) Be a collection
point of data and information on the economy of
(2) Advise on
economic policy for the governor, the executive office of commerce, and
the state;
(3) Prepare economic
policy analysis on specific issues such as tax credits, tax
expenditures and other related matters;
(4) Publish reports
and analyses as it sees fit to inform the state of the effect of economic
activity and policy;
(5) Establish a
central repository of economic information in conjunction with the
department of administration and the department of revenue and
other state departments;
(6) Prepare an annual
report on the economy of
(7) Review and advise on the strategic economic development plan for the
state of Rhode
Island.
42-64.18-3.
Structure. -- (a) The
members of the council shall be appointed by the
governor for terms of no longer than three (3) years and may be
reappointed. The executive
director of the economic development corporation shall be the
chairperson until such time that the
secretary of commerce is appointed;
Upon his or her
appointment, the secretary of commerce shall be the chairperson. The
council shall also select a vice chair. The council shall be
staffed through the economic
development corporation and shall utilize the staffs and
resources of the division of statewide
planning.
(b) The council will
be able to hire, subject to funding, consultants and related assistance
to provide the type of analysis to inform its work.
42-64.18-4.
State departments to cooperate with council. -- All
departments, offices,
boards and agencies of the state shall cooperate with the
council of economic advisors and furnish
such administrative and staff support, advice,
information, documents and otherwise, data and
data analysis and other support as may be necessary or
desirable.
42-64.18-5. Powers
of council. -- In carrying out the responsibility under this
chapter,
the council may:
(1) Accept grant
funds and in-kind contributions from governmental and private entities;
(2) Conduct hearings;
(3) Invite academic
experts and other witnesses to submit testimony; and
(4) Contract with
experts and consultants as necessary to inform on deliberations and
recommendations.
42-64.18-6.
Council subject to open meetings and access to public records laws.
-- In
addition to any other applicable law, rules or regulations,
the council of economic advisors shall
be subject to the provisions of the open meetings act as
set forth in title 42, chapter 46 of the
Rhode Island general laws, and the access to public
records act as set forth in title 38, chapter 2 of
the
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect on January 1, 2014.
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LC02351/SUB B/2
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