2015 -- H 5130

========

LC000488

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

____________

J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY THE EFFECTIVENESS

OF THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

     Introduced By: Representatives McLaughlin, Marshall, Azzinaro, McNamara, and

     Date Introduced: January 15, 2015

     Referred To: House Corporations

     RESOLVED, That a special legislative commission be and the same is hereby created

consisting of eleven (11) members: three (3) of whom shall be members of the House, not more

than two (2) from the same political party, to be appointed by the Speaker; three (3) of whom

shall be members of the Senate, not more than two (2) from the same political party, to be

appointed by the President of the Senate; one of whom shall be the Chair of the Public Utilities

Commission, or designee; two (2) of whom shall be members of consumer advocate groups, one

to be appointed by each of the commission co-chairs; one of whom shall be an electric provider in

the state of Rhode Island, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; and one of whom shall be

a representative from a large Rhode Island commercial user, to be appointed by the President of

the Senate.

     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 make a comprehensive study of the

effectiveness of the Public Utilities Commission, of how electricity, gasoline, and natural gas are

regulated in neighboring states, including the delivery system for bringing gasoline and natural

gas into Rhode Island, and to make recommendations, including, but not limited to, the possibility

of controlling electricity in Rhode Island as it was previously regulated and amending the

delivery system for bringing gasoline into the state.

     Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall meet at

the call of the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House and organize. The President

of the Senate and the Speaker of the House shall each select one member to serve as co-

chairpersons of the commission.

     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 results to the General

Assembly on or before March 1, 2016, and said commission shall expire on June 1, 2016.

========

LC000488

========

LC000488 - Page 2 of 3

EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY THE EFFECTIVENESS

OF THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

***

     This resolution would create an eleven (11) member special legislative commission

whose purpose it would be to make a comprehensive study of the effectiveness of the Public

Utilities Commission and provide recommendations, and who would report back to the General

Assembly on or before March 1, 2016, and said commission would expire on June 1, 2016.

========

LC000488

========

LC000488 - Page 3 of 3