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

CREATING A SPECIAL SENATE COMMISSION TO STUDY INTERPRETERS IN HEALTH CARE FACILITIES

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 (1) of whom shall be the Director of the Department of Health, or designee; two (2) of whom shall be representatives of the Hospital Association of Rhode Island, to be appointed by the Association's President; one (1) of whom shall be the executive director of Ocean State Action, or designee; one (1) of whom shall be a representative of the Center for Hispanic Policy and Advocacy, to be appointed by its Executive Director; one (1) of whom shall be a representative of the International Institute, to be appointed by the Executive Director; one (1) of whom shall be a representative of the Socioeconomic Development Center for Southeast Asians, to be appointed by the Executive Director; one (1) of whom shall be a representative of the Student Interpreters Program of the Brown University Center for Public Service, to be appointed by the Director; one (1) of whom shall be a representative of the Rhode Island Organization of Nurse Executives, to be appointed by the Executive Director; and two (2) of whom shall be employees of Rhode Island licensed hospitals, 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 the adequacy of interpreter services at hospitals in Rhode Island. Said study shall include, but not be limited to, the qualification of interpreters provided to patients, the availability of interpreters on hospital staffs, adequacy of notice to patients of their entitlement to interpreter services, potential adverse impact upon patient care as a result of a failure to provide interpreter services, and the adequacy or inadequacy of using family members to interpret between hospital staff and the patient.

Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall meet at the call of the Senate Majority Leader and select from among the senators a chairperson. Vacancies in said commission shall be filled in the 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 March 29, 2001 and said commission shall expire on June 8, 2001.