R 401
2022 -- H 7784 SUBSTITUTE A
Enacted 06/24/2022

J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N
CREATING A SPECIAL JOINT LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY THE GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE OF RHODE ISLAND'S PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM

Introduced By: Representatives McNamara, McLaughlin, Potter, and Amore

Date Introduced: March 03, 2022

     WHEREAS, Effective January 1, 2013, the General Assembly created a Board of
Education consisting of seventeen (17) public members to be appointed by the Governor with the
advice and consent of the Senate, eight (8) of whom to be designated to serve on the council for
elementary and secondary education and eight (8) of whom to be designated to serve on the
council for postsecondary education. The chairperson of the board would serve as a member of
both councils; now, therefore be it
     RESOLVED, That a special joint legislative commission be and the same is hereby
created consisting of ten (10) members: five (5) of whom shall be members of the Senate, not
more than four (4) from the same political party, to be appointed by the President of the Senate;
and five (5) of whom shall be members of the House, not more than four (4) from the same
political party, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House.
     In lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to a legislative study
commission, the appointing authority may appoint a member of the general public to serve in
place of a legislator; provided that, the Senate President/Speaker of the House or the Minority
Leader of the political party that is entitled to the appointment consents to the appointment of the
member of the general public.
     The purpose of said commission shall be to study, review, and make recommendations on
how to most efficiently and effectively administer the governance of the kindergarten through
sixteen (16) public education system in the State of Rhode Island.
     Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall meet at
the call of the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House, who shall appoint commission
Co-chairs, including one from the Senate and one from the House.
     Vacancies in said commission shall be filled in like manner as the original appointment.
     A quorum of the commission shall consist of a majority of its membership, and 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 or 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 to the
President of the Senate and Speaker of the House on or before March 1, 2023, and said
commission shall expire on July 1, 2023.
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LC005108/SUB A
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