Introduced By: Senators Connors, Coderre, DaPonte, Goodwin and Izzo
Date Introduced : January 21, 1999
RESOLVED, That a special senate commission be and the same is
hereby created consisting of {DEL twelve (12) DEL} {ADD thirteen (13) ADD} 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 Attorney General, or designee; one
(1) of whom shall be the commissioner of Elementary and Secondary
Education, or designee; one (1) of whom shall be the director
of the Department of Elderly Affairs, 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 superintendent
of the state police, or designee; one (1) of whom shall be a
representative of the Rhode Island Police Chiefs' Association,
to be appointed by the association president; one (1) of whom
shall be the director of the Department of Health, or designee;
one (1) of whom shall be the child advocate, or designee; and
one (1) of whom shall be the president of the Rhode Island Association
of Criminal Defense lawyers, or designee {ADD; and opne (1) of whom shall be the Director of the Rhode Island Crime Lab or designee ADD} .
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 review current statutory mandates requiring criminal background checks for various categories of prospective employees in the fields of health care, child care, care of the elderly, and education, and to make recommendations regarding a uniform approach for the procurement of such criminal background checks.
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 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 joint committee on legislative services 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 February 28, 2000 and said commission shall expire on April 28, 2000.
