2021 -- H 5781

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2021

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- ESTABLISHING AN ELECTED

AND APPOINTED MINORITY OFFICIALS COMMISSION

     Introduced By: Representatives Williams, Hull, Alzate, Barros, Morales, Batista,
Henries, Giraldo, Felix, and Diaz

     Date Introduced: February 24, 2021

     Referred To: House Special Legislation

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Title 42 of the General Laws entitled "STATE AFFAIRS AND

GOVERNMENT" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

CHAPTER 160

THE ELECTED AND APPOINTED MINORITY OFFICIALS COMMISSION

     42-160-1. Short title.

     This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Elected and Appointed Minority

Officials Commission".

     42-160-2. Minority defined.

     (a) "Minority" means a person who is a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United

States and who is:

     (1) Black (a person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa);

     (2) Hispanic (a person of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central or South American, or

other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race);

     (3) Portuguese (a person of Portuguese, Brazilian, or other Portuguese culture or origin,

regardless of race);

     (4) Asian American (a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East,

Southeast Asia, the Indian subcontinent, or the Pacific Islands);

     (5) American Indian and Alaskan Native (a person having origins in any of the original

peoples of North America; or

     (6) Members of other groups or individuals found to be economically and socially

disadvantaged by the commission established pursuant to § 42-160-3.

     42-160-3. Commission established.

     There is hereby created and established a commission to be known as the "Elected and

Appointed Minority Officials Commission," hereinafter referred to as the "commission".

     42-160-4. Composition of commission.

     The commission shall consist of thirteen (13) members: one of whom shall be designated

co-chairperson and shall be appointed by the speaker of the house; one of whom shall be designated

co-chairperson and shall be appointed by the president of the senate; one of whom shall be

designated co-chairperson and shall be appointed by the governor. Each co-chairperson shall be a

distinguished member of the minority community. Each co-chairperson shall select three (3)

persons to serve on the commission. The secretary of state shall appoint one person to serve on the

commission. Commission members shall serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority.

Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment. The commission shall

serve without compensation.

     42-160-5. Purpose of commission.

     The purpose of the commission shall be to establish a permanent record of state and

municipal elected and appointed minority officials holding executive, legislative or judicial office,

from the founding of this state's original settlement by Roger Williams in 1636 to the present. The

records shall state the name, position and period of elected or appointed service of each minority

official.

     42-160-6. Appropriations and disbursements.

     (a) For fiscal year 2022, the general assembly shall appropriate the sum of two million

dollars ($2,000,000) to carry out the purpose of this chapter, and shall further annually appropriate,

out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated, a sum sufficient to continue to carry

out the purposes of this chapter; and the state controller is hereby authorized and directed to draw

his or her orders upon the general treasurer for the payment of that sum, or so much thereof as may

be required from time to time, upon the receipt by him or her of properly authenticated vouchers.

     (b) The commission may additionally accept and solicit funds, including any gifts,

donations, grants or bequests or any federal funds for any of the purposes of this chapter.

     42-160-7. Access to state archives.

     The commission shall have unrestricted access to the state archives created pursuant to

chapter 8.1 of title 42.

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     42-160-8. Amendment of record.

     The commission shall establish rules and procedures for any person to petition the

commission to amend the record of elected and appointed minority officials to include an additional

elected or appointed minority official as a proper individual for inclusion in the record.

     42-160-9. Delivery and preservation of record.

     The commission shall deliver to the secretary of state and the state archivist the record of

elected and appointed minority officials and all amendments thereto.

     42-160-10. Publication.

     The secretary of state shall publish on its official website all information provided by the

commission pursuant to § 42-160-9.

     SECTION 2. 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 -- ESTABLISHING AN ELECTED

AND APPOINTED MINORITY OFFICIALS COMMISSION

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     This act would create an "Elected and Appointed Minority Officials Commission" to create

a record of elected and appointed minority officials from the inception of the state as a settlement

in 1636 by Roger Williams to the present.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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