RESOLVED, That a special blue ribbon commission be and the same is hereby created consisting of twenty (20) members; four (4) of whom shall be from the house of representatives, not more than three (3) from the same political party, of whom one (1) shall be appointed by the speaker, one (1) by the majority leader, one (1) by the minority leader, and of whom one (1) shall be the chairman of the house finance committee or his designee; four (4) of whom shall be from the senate not more than three (3) from the same political party, of whom two (2) shall be appointed by the senate majority leader, one (1) by the senate minority leader, and of whom one (1) shall be the chairman of the senate finance committee or his designee; one (1) of whom shall be a member of the Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns, to be appointed by the governor; one (1) of whom shall be a member of the Rhode Island Association of School committees, to be appointed by its president; one (1) of whom shall be a member of R.I. Association of school administrations to be appointed by its president; one (1) of whom shall be a member of the R.I. Association of Administrators of Special Education to be designated by its president; one (1) of whom shall be a member of the American Federation of Teachers, to be appointed by the Rhode Island chapter president; one (1) of whom shall be a member of the National Education Association, to be appointed by its Rhode Island chapter president; one (1) of whom shall be a representative of the Rhode Island Independent School Association; three (3) of whom shall be members of the general public, of whom one (1) shall be appointed by the speaker, one (1) by the senate majority leader, and one (1) by the governor; one (1) of whom shall be a member of the governor's staff, to be appointed by the governor; and one (1) of whom shall be the commissioner of elementary and secondary education, or his designee.

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 examine the effects of educational mandates on local finance and to make recommendations therefor.

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 January 21, 1997 and said commission shall expire on March 21, 1997.