RESOLVED, That a special legislative commission be and the same is hereby created consisting of twenty-seven (27) members: three (3) of whom shall be from the house of representatives, not more than two (2) from the same political party, to be appointed by the speaker; one (1) of whom shall be the director of the Department of Education, or designee; one (1) of whom shall be the director of the Department of Health, or designee; one (1) of whom shall be the director of the Department of Children, Youth and Families, or designee; one (1) of whom shall be the member of the Rhode Island Association of School Committees, to be appointed by the association president; one (1) of whom shall be a member of the Rhode Island Association of School Principals, to be appointed by the association president; one (1) of whom shall be the Chair of the Rhode Island Board of Higher Education, or designee; one (1) of whom shall be a member of the National Association of Social Workers, to be appointed by the association president; one (1) of whom shall be a representative of the Samaritans, to be appointed by the speaker; one (1) of whom shall be a representative of Youth Pride, Inc., to be appointed by the speaker; one (1) of whom shall be a member of the Rhode Island Federation of Teachers, to be appointed by the federation president; one (1) of whom shall be a member of the National Association of Education, to be appointed by the association president; one (1) of whom shall be the executive director of the Human Rights Commission, or designee; one (1) of whom shall be a member of PFLAG, to be appointed by the speaker; or designee; one (1) of whom shall be the president of the National Conference of Christians and Jews, or designee; one (1) of whom shall be a member of a Parent Teachers Assocation/Organization, to be appointed by the speaker; one (1) of whom shall be the director of Progresso Latino, or designee; one (1) of whom shall be the director of YMCA of southern Rhode Island; one (1) of whom shall be the executive director of the YWCA of Northern Rhode Island, or designee; one (1) of whom shall be the executive director of the International Institute, or designee; one (1) of whom shall be a member of Alliance, to be appointed by the speaker; one (1) of whom shall be a member of the Jewish Community Center, to be appointed by the speaker; one (1) of whom shall be a parent of a public school student, to be appointed by the speaker; one (1) of whom shall be a student in K-12 public school, to be appointed by the speaker; and one (1) of whom shall be a student in a Rhode Island College or University, to be appointed by the speaker.

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 discrimination against students in the public schools as it relates to the issues of religion, national origin and sexual orientation.

Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall meet at the call of the speaker of the house and organize and shall select from among the legislators 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 speaker of the house 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 general assembly on or before February 4, 1997 and said commission shall expire on April 4, 1997.