Introduced By: Senators Irons, Polisena, Connors and Bates
Date Introduced : February 10, 1998
RESOLVED, That a special senate commission be and the same is hereby created consisting of eleven (11) members: three (3) of whom shall be from the senate, not more than two (2) from the same political party, to be appointed by the majority leader; one (1) of whom shall be the Director of Health or designee; one (1) of whom shall be the Director of the Hospital Association of Rhode Island or designee; one (1) of whom shall be the Assistant of the Rhode Island Medical Society or designee; one (1) of whom shall be a surgeon representative from a surgical resident training program, to be appointed by the majority leader; one (1) of whom shall be a physician specializing in anesthesiology, to be appointed by the majority leader; one (1) of whom shall be a nurse anesthetist, to be appointed by the majority leader; one (1) of whom shall be a representative of a licensed free-standing ambulatory surgical facility, to be appointed by the majority leader; and one (1) of whom shall be a physician with experience in office-based surgery, to be appointed by the 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 practice of office based surgery with respect to the categories of patients and procedures that may safety and appropriately be conducted in such settings. The commission is further instructed to consider and to recommend standards, if any, which may be necessary to promote the safety and welfare of individuals receiving such services.
Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall meet at the call of the senate majority leader and organize and shall select from among the senators a chairperson. Vacancies in said commission shall be filled in like manner as the original appointment.
The member 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 Department of Health 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 January 14, 1999 and said commission shall expire on March 14, 1999.
