WHEREAS, The Supreme Court of Rhode Island has ruled that the general assembly is responsible for education; and

WHEREAS, The Constitution of Rhode Island provides that it is the duty of the general assembly to promote public schools and to secure to the people the advantages and opportunities of education; and

WHEREAS, The General Assembly is concerned about the education of the children of the state; and

WHEREAS, The governing board of education has not changed for an entire generation of students; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That a special house commission be and the same is hereby created consisting of five (5) house members, three (3) of whom shall be from the majority party and two (2) of whom shall be from the minority party.

The purpose of said commission shall be to recommend an alternative structure to the current Board of Regents for Elementary and Secondary Education.

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 December 31, 1996 and said commission shall expire on February 28, 1997.