S  E  N  A  T  E     R  E  S  O  L  U  T  I  O  N

CREATING A SPECIAL SENATE COMMISSION TO STUDY CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT AND ACCOUNTABILITY

RESOLVED, That a special senate commission be and the same is hereby created consisting of fifteen (15) members: four (4) of whom shall be from the senate, not more than three (3) from the same political party, to be appointed by the senate majority leader; one of whom shall be the Chief Judge of the Family Court, or his designee; one of whom shall be the attorney general, or designee; one of whom shall be the director of DCYF, or designee; one of whom shall be the child advocate, or designee; two (2) of whom shall be members of the bar of the Supreme Court of this state with experience in civil litigation involving the state's child support laws, to be appointed by the senate majority leader; two (2) of whom shall be members of the general public, to be appointed by the senate majority leader; one of whom shall be a member of the faculty of the university or college of the state, to be appointed by the senate majority leader; one of whom shall be a certified public accountant, to be appointed by the senate majority leader; and one of whom shall be an elementary or junior high school guidance counselor, to be appointed by the senate majority leader.

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 to study child support enforcement and accountability.

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 senators 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 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 senate on or before February 28, 2001 and said commission shall expire on April 15, 2001.