2018 -- H 7801

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LC004268

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2018

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J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY THE POSSIBILITY OF

TRANSITIONING THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A

BIENNIAL BUDGET

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Abney, Shekarchi, Ackerman, Marshall, and Mendonca

     Date Introduced: February 28, 2018

     Referred To: House Finance

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     WHEREAS, As of 2012, there were nineteen states with biennial budgets, including

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some very populous states such as, North Carolina, Ohio, and Texas, as well as smaller states,

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including our neighbor, Connecticut; and

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     WHEREAS, Over the years, several states have switched both to and from biennial

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budgets for a variety of reasons; and

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     WHEREAS, It is prudent at this time to evaluate the benefits of transitioning Rhode

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Island to biennial budgeting; now, therefore be it

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

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consisting of thirteen (13) members; four (4) of whom shall be members of the House of

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Representatives, one of whom shall be the Chair of the House Finance Committee, and two (2) of

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whom shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House and one of whom shall be appointed by the

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House Minority Leader; four (4) of whom shall be members of the Senate, one of whom shall be

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the Chair of the Senate Finance Committee, and two (2) of whom shall be appointed by the

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President of the Senate and one of whom shall be appointed by the Senate Minority Leader; one

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of whom shall be the Director of the Rhode Island Office of Management and Budget, or

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designee; one of whom shall be the Director of the Rhode Island Department of Administration,

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or designee; one of whom shall be the Director of the Budget Office, or designee; one of whom

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shall be the President of the Rhode Island Foundation, or designee; and one of whom shall be the

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Executive Director of Partnership for Rhode Island, or designee.

 

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      In lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to a permanent advisory

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commission, a legislative study commission, or any commission created by a General Assembly

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resolution, the appointing authority may appoint a member of the general public to serve in lieu

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of a legislator, provided that the majority leader or the minority leader of the political party which

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is entitled to the appointment consent to the member of the general public.

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     The purpose of said commission shall be to make a comprehensive study on the

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possibility of transitioning the state to establishing a biennial budget.

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

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

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Finance Committee and the Chair of the Senate Finance Committee shall serve as co-

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chairpersons.

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     Vacancies in said commission shall be filed in like manner as the original appointment.

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     The membership of said commission shall receive no compensation for their services.

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     All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such advice and information,

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documentary and otherwise, to said commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or

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desirable by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this resolution.

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     The Joint Committee on Legislative Services is hereby authorized and directed to provide

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suitable quarters for said commission; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That the commission shall report its findings and recommendations to the

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General Assembly and the Office of the Governor no later than February 1, 2019, and said

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commission shall expire on July 1, 2019.

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LC004268

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