2019 -- H 5502

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LC000979

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

TO APPROVE AND PUBLISH AND SUBMIT TO THE ELECTORS A PROPOSITION OF

AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

(SESSIONS OF GENERAL ASSEMBLY)

     Introduced By: Representatives Newberry, and Lyle

     Date Introduced: February 14, 2019

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     RESOLVED, That a majority of all members elected to each house of the general

assembly voting therefor, the following amendment to the Constitution of the state be proposed to

the qualified electors of the state in accordance with the provisions of Article XIV of the

Constitution for their approval and that this amendment take the place of Article VI, Section 3,

which Article and Section is hereby amended, effective on January 1, 2019, to read as follows:

ARTICLE VI

OF THE LEGISLATIVE POWER

     Section 3. Sessions of general assembly – Compensation of general assembly

members and officers. – There shall be a session of the general assembly at Providence

commencing on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of January in each year and terminating

on or before the last Friday of May in that year. The speaker of the house of representatives and

the president of the senate may, by agreement, convene a special session of the general assembly

at any time thereafter.

     Commencing in January 1995, senators and representatives shall be compensated at an

annual rate of ten thousand dollars ($10,000). Commencing in 1996, the rate of compensation

shall be adjusted annually to reflect changes in the cost of living, as determined by the United

States government, during a twelve (12) month period ending in the immediately preceding year.

Commencing in 2003, the president of the senate and the speaker of the house shall be

compensated at an annual rate double that of other senators and representatives.

     Senators and representatives shall receive the same health insurance benefits as full-time

state employees.

     Senators and representatives shall be reimbursed for traveling expenses in going to and

from the general assembly at the same mileage paid to state workers as of the 31st day of

December in the year preceding each session.

     No senator or representative shall be eligible for any pension on account of service in the

general assembly after 1994; provided, however, that those senators and representatives first

elected before 1994 who elect to receive compensation for legislative service in 1995 and

thereafter, at the rate of five dollars ($5.00) for every day of actual attendance and eight cents

(.08) per mile for traveling expenses in going to and returning from the general assembly, for a

maximum of sixty (60) days in any calendar year, shall be eligible for a pension on account of

service in the general assembly after 1994. The amount of such pension shall be based upon the

pension program in effect for legislators on January 1, 1994.

     The general assembly shall regulate the compensation of the governor and of all other

officers, subject to limitations contained in the Constitution.

     RESOLVED, That this amendment take, in the Constitution of the state, the place of

Article VI, Section 3, of the Constitution; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the said proposition of amendment shall be submitted to the electors

for their approval or rejection at the next statewide general election to be held in November,

2018. The voting places in the several cities and towns shall be kept open during the hours

required by law for voting therein for members of the state general assembly; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the secretary of state shall cause the said proposition of amendment to

be published as a part of this resolution in the newspapers of the state prior to the date of the said

meetings of said electors; and the said proposition shall be inserted in the warrants or notices to

be issued previous to said meetings of the electors for the purpose of warning the town, ward or

district meetings, and said proposition shall be read by the town, ward or district meetings to be

held as aforesaid; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the town, ward and district meetings to be held aforesaid shall be

warned, and the list of voters shall be canvassed and made up, and the said town, ward and

district meetings shall be conducted in the same manner as now provided by law for the town,

ward and district meetings for the next general election of members to the state general assembly

and such other general officers of the state as may be up for election.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

TO APPROVE AND PUBLISH AND SUBMIT TO THE ELECTORS A PROPOSITION OF

AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

(SESSIONS OF GENERAL ASSEMBLY)

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     The joint resolution would propose a constitutional amendment which, if approved by the

voters, would change the opening date of the general assembly to the first Tuesday after the first

Monday in January, and would provide for adjournment no later than the last Friday in May.

     The speaker of the house of representatives and the president of the senate would have

the power, by agreement, to convene a special session of the general assembly at any time

thereafter.

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LC000979

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