2017 -- S 0398

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- APPOINTMENTS

COMMISSIONS

     

     Introduced By: Senators McCaffrey, and Lombardi

     Date Introduced: March 02, 2017

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 40.1-29-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 40.1-29 entitled

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"Governor's Council on Behavioral Health" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     40.1-29-3. Members.

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     (a) The council shall consist of twenty-six (26) members.

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      (1) There shall be four (4) members of the legislature, two (2) shall be from the senate

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and shall be appointed by the lieutenant governor senate president to serve for their legislative

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term, one from each of the major political parties, and two (2) shall be from the house of

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representatives and shall be appointed by the speaker to serve for their legislative term, one from

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each of the two (2) major political parties.

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      (2) The non-legislative members shall be the executive director of the Drug and Alcohol

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Treatment Association, the executive director of the Council of Community Mental Health

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Organizations, the mental health advocate, and a representative of the AFL-CIO to be appointed

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by the governor.

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      (3) The remaining eighteen (18) public members shall be appointed by and serve at the

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pleasure of the governor and shall represent such community interests as substance abuse

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treatment and prevention professionals, consumers of substance abuse programs and their

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families, mental health treatment professionals, adult and elderly consumers of mental health

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services and their families, families of children who are consumers of mental health and

 

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substance abuse services, the judiciary, criminal justice officials and local government officials.

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      (4) Not less than fifty (50%) percent of the public members shall be individuals who are

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not state employees or providers of behavioral health services.

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      (5) There shall be sufficient representation by the families of children who are

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consumers of mental health and substance abuse services in order to ensure adequate

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representation of such children.

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      (6) Every effort shall be made to ensure that appointed members represent the cultural

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diversity of the state.

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      (7) All members shall have demonstrable expertise in, or experience with substance

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abuse or mental health services in Rhode Island. In addition, the directors or their designees of the

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departments of children, youth, and families; corrections; education; health; human services;

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elderly affairs and mental health, retardation, and hospitals; the attorney general or designee and

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the executive director of the Rhode Island justice commission shall serve as ex officio and

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without a vote as members of the council.

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      (b) Any vacancy which may occur in the council shall be filled in the same manner as

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the original appointments.

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      (c) The governor shall designate one member as the chairperson of the council.

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     SECTION 2. Section 42-23-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-23 entitled

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"Commission on Interstate Cooperation" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     42-23-2. Composition -- Tenure of members.

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     (a) The commission on interstate cooperation shall consist of:

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      (1) The governor, the lieutenant governor, the attorney general, and the speaker of the

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house of representatives, and the senate president, ex officio;

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      (2) Four (4) members of the senate to be appointed by the president of the senate, not

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more than three (3) of whom shall be members of the same political party;

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      (3) Four (4) members of the house of representatives to be appointed by the speaker, not

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more than three (3) of whom shall be members of the same political party; and

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      (4) Five (5) qualified electors of the state, not more than four (4) of whom shall be

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members of the same political party, to be appointed by the governor.

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      (b) Each member of the commission who holds public office shall serve during his or her

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term of office and the other members shall serve during the pleasure of the governor.

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     SECTION 3. Section 42-58-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-58 entitled "American

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and Canadian French Cultural Exchange Commission" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     42-58-1. Commission established.

 

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     There shall be an American and Canadian French cultural exchange commission to

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consist of nine (9) members, all of whom shall be American citizens of French Canadian ancestry

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and residents of the state; three (3) of whom shall be appointed by the speaker of the house of

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representatives; three (3) of whom shall be appointed by the lieutenant governor senate president;

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and three (3) of whom shall be appointed by the governor. This commission shall establish,

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maintain, and develop cultural ties between French-Canadians and Franco-Americans; foster a

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special interest in the historical and cultural background of both groups, as well as in the

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economic, political, social, and artistic life of the countries involved; and shall help establish or

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promote French language programs in the schools of the state.

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     SECTION 4. Section 42-65-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-65 entitled "American

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and Irish Cultural Exchange Commission" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     42-65-1. Commission established.

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     There shall be an American and Irish cultural exchange commission to consist of nine (9)

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members, all of whom shall be American citizens descended from Irish ancestry and residents of

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the state; three (3) of whom shall be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives;

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three (3) of whom shall be appointed by the lieutenant governor senate president; and three (3) of

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whom shall be appointed by the governor. The commission shall establish, maintain, and develop

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cultural ties between Irish and Irish-Americans; foster a special interest in the historical and

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cultural background of both groups, as well as in the economic, political, social, and artistic life

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of the countries involved; and shall help establish or promote Gaelic language programs in the

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schools of the state.

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     SECTION 5. Section 42-77-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-77 entitled "Minority

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Groups Advisory Commission" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     42-77-1. Commission established.

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     There shall be a minority groups advisory commission to consist of nine (9) members, all

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of whom shall be members of minority groups; three (3) of whom shall be appointed by the

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speaker of the house of representatives; three (3) of whom shall be appointed by the lieutenant

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governor senate president; and three (3) of whom shall be appointed by the governor. The

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commission shall establish, maintain, and develop cultural ties among various minority groups

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located within the state; advise the governor and general assembly on any problem encountering

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various groups of minorities, especially refugees; and foster a special interest in the historical and

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cultural background of minority groups, as well as in the economic, political, social, and artistic

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life of the countries involved.

 

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     SECTION 6. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- APPOINTMENTS

COMMISSIONS

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     This act would change the responsibility of making appointments to certain advisory and

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exchange commissions from the lieutenant governor to the senate president.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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