2022 -- H 7210

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LC003294

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY AND REVIEW THE

IMPACT OF EXISTING RULES AND REGULATIONS ON THE CREATION OF NEW

BUSINESSES, AND PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS TO REVISE LAWS IN ORDER TO

ELIMINATE BARRIERS

     Introduced By: Representatives Carson, McEntee, Cortvriend, and Caldwell

     Date Introduced: January 26, 2022

     Referred To: House Small Business

     WHEREAS, There is untapped potential for the State to become a mecca for social

enterprise on both a small and large scale; and

     WHEREAS, Over the past year, there has been a substantial rise in remote work, causing

many talented Americans to reassess where they can and would like to live. Attracting these

skilled individuals presents a unique opportunity for Rhode Island to target these potential

transplants and expand the State's creative workforce; and

     WHEREAS, Rhode Island already has many of the components necessary to attract and

grow an entrepreneurial based economy including, access to Amtrak, major airports, diversity of

housing stocks and receptivity to diversity, equity, and inclusion; now, therefore be it

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

consisting of seventeen (17) members; five (5) of whom shall be members of the Rhode Island

House of Representatives, not more than three (3) from the same political party, to be appointed

by the Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be the Director of the Rhode Island Department

of Business Regulation, or designee; one of whom shall be the Tax Administer of the Rhode

Island Department of Revenue, or designee; one of whom shall be Rhode Island's Secretary of

Commerce, or designee; one of whom shall be a member of the faculty of the Innovation and

Entrepreneurship program at the University of Rhode Island, to be appointed by the Speaker of

the House; one of whom shall be the Co-founder and CEO of Social Enterprise Greenhouse

(SEG), or designee; one of whom shall be Director of Innovate Newport, or designee; one of

whom shall be the Director of RIHub, or designee; one of whom shall be of the President of the

RI Black Business Association (RIBBA), or designee; one of whom shall be the Executive

Director of Hope & Main, or designee; one of whom shall be the General Manager of the

Cambridge Innovation Center (CIC) Providence, or designee; one of whom shall be the President

of the Center for Women & Enterprise, or designee; and one of whom shall be District Director

for the RI District Office of the US Small Business Association, or designee.

     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 member of the general public.

     The purpose of said commission shall be to study and provide recommendations for a

comprehensive set of policy and legislative measures to elevate innovation as an economic

development priority and a key to economic recovery and resiliency including, but not limited to:

Complete an initial analysis of the State's current innovation ecosystem based on a

thorough review of previous and ongoing qualitative and quantitative research;

Examine the State's contracting and procurement procedures in order to better

support new businesses and become more entrepreneur-friendly;

Establish regulations to direct state agencies to collect and utilize data on new

business in order to target methods to reduce barriers for new business creation;

Research and assess methods and programs to promote opportunities within

underserved areas; and

Develop programs and incentives to build out our infrastructure in order to attract

populations of talented individuals who are remote working including additional

facilities, such as office, lab, and specialized residential areas; and

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

the call of the Speaker of the House and organize and shall select a chairperson.

     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 Speaker of the House is hereby authorized and directed to provide suitable quarters

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for said commission; and be it further

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

House of Representatives no later than January 4, 2023, and said commission shall expire on

March 4, 2023.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY AND REVIEW THE

IMPACT OF EXISTING RULES AND REGULATIONS ON THE CREATION OF NEW

BUSINESSES, AND PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS TO REVISE LAWS IN ORDER TO

ELIMINATE BARRIERS

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     This resolution would create a seventeen (17) member commission to study and review

the impact of existing rules and regulations on the creation of new businesses, and provide

recommendations to revise laws in order to eliminate barriers, and who would report back to the

House of Representatives no later than January 4, 2023, and whose life would expire on March 4,

2023.

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LC003294

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