Introduced By: Representatives Almeida, Williams, Abdullah-Odiase, Carpenter and Lopes
Date Introduced : May 18, 1999
RESOLVED, That a special house commission be and the same is hereby created consisting of thirteen (13) members: five (5) of whom shall be from the house of representatives, not more than three (3) from the same political party to be appointed by the Speaker one (1) of whom shall be a District Court Judge, to be appointed by the Speaker; one (1) of whom shall be a Superior Court Judge, to be appointed by the Speaker; one (1) of whom shall be the Attorney General, or designee; one (1) of whom shall be the Public Defender, or designee; one (1) of whom shall be a representative of Rhode Island Legal Services, to be appointed by the Speaker; one (1) of whom shall be the President of the Providence Chapter of the NAACP, or designee; one (1) of whom shall be a representative of a municipal police department, to be appointed by the Speaker; and one (1) of whom shall be a criminal defense attorney, to be appointed by the Speaker.
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 and investigate the existence and effect of racial bias against minority criminal defendants.
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 House of Representatives on or before June 1, 2000 and said commission shall expire on August 1, 2000.
