RESOLVED, That a special legislative commission be and the same is hereby created consisting of eleven (11) members: two (2) of whom shall be from the house of representatives, not more than one (1) from the same political party, to be appointed by the speaker, two (2) of whom shall be from the senate, not more than one (1) from the same political party, to be appointed by the majority leader; one (1) of whom shall be a representative of the permanent joint committee on highway safety, to be appointed by its chairman; one (1) of whom shall be from the Governor's Office on Highway Safety, to be appointed by its Chief Coordinator or by the Governor; one (1) of whom shall be an employee of the Rhode Island Department of Transportation with responsibility for highway construction zone safety, to be appointed by its director; one (1) of whom shall be an employee of the Rhode Island State Police or the State Municipal Training Academy responsible for enforcing highway safety or providing instruction regarding highway safety, to be appointed by the governor; one (1) of whom shall be a member of the general public, to be appointed by the speaker; one (1) of whom shall be a professional engineer familiar with highway construction practices who during the term of the commission is not employed by contractors and/or consultants doing business with the Rhode Island Department of Transportation to be appointed by the speaker; and one (1) of whom shall be a highway construction safety professional employed by contractors and/or consultants from time to time doing business with the Rhode Island Department of Transportation, 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 regulations and policies of the Rhode Island Department of Transportation with respect to protecting the safety of the motoring public in highway construction zones; to assess the adequacy of the protections currently being maintained in highway construction zones; to evaluate the contract provisions by which the Rhode Island Department of Transportation allocates and enforces highway construction zone traffic control functions; to review the procedures utilized by the Rhode Island Department of Transportation to supervise traffic operations undertaken by contractors and consultants performing highway improvement projects; and to recommend changes in the law to enhance highway construction zone safety of the motoring public.
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 hosue 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 23, 1997 and said commission shall expire on March 23, 1997.
