2022 -- H 7744

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LC004576

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Fogarty, McEntee, Caldwell, Craven, Phillips, and
O'Brien

     Date Introduced: March 02, 2022

     Referred To: House State Government & Elections

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 16-32-2.2 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-32 entitled "University

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of Rhode Island [See Title 16 Chapter 97 - The Rhode Island Board of Education Act]" is hereby

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amended to read as follows:

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     16-32-2.2. Appointment and removal of the board of trustees.

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     (a) There is hereby established a board of trustees for the university of Rhode Island

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consisting of seventeen (17) members. The governor shall appoint the members, with the advice

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and consent of the senate, to serve on the board of trustees, until the expiration of their term and

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their successor is appointed. In making these appointments the governor shall give due

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consideration to recommendations from the president of the university of Rhode Island and at least

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three (3) of those members appointed by the governor shall be residents of the state of Rhode Island,

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at least one of those members shall be selected from a list of names of at least five (5) individuals

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submitted by the speaker of the house of representatives, and at least one of those members shall

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be selected from a list of names of at least five (5) individuals submitted by the president of the

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senate. In addition, the president of the university of Rhode Island shall appoint one faculty member

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and one student member who shall be a full-time student in good standing at the university and

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who shall both serve in a non-voting, ex officio capacity for a single two (2) year term. The chair

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of the board of education and the chair of the council on postsecondary education shall serve in a

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non-voting, ex-officio capacity on the board of trustees. Six (6) of the members initially appointed

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pursuant to this section shall serve terms of three (3) years; seven (7) members initially appointed

 

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pursuant to this section shall serve terms of two (2) years, including the member appointed from

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the list submitted by the speaker of the house of representatives and the member appointed from

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the list submitted by the president of the senate; and, four (4) members initially appointed pursuant

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to this section shall serve terms of one year. Thirteen (13) Ten (10) voting members of the board

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shall constitute a quorum and the vote of a majority of those present and voting shall be required

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for action.

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     (b) After the initial terms of appointment have expired, the governor shall appoint nine (9)

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seventeen (17) members with the advice and consent of the senate to serve as members of the board

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of trustees with three (3) members appointed for a term of three (3) years; with three (3) members

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appointed for a term of two (2) years, including the member appointed from the list submitted by

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the speaker of the house of representatives and the member appointed from the list submitted by

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the president of the senate; and with three (3) members appointed for a term of one year and shall

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be eligible to be reappointed to a term of two (2) years. In making these appointments the governor

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shall give due consideration to recommendations from the president of the university of Rhode

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Island and at least three (3) of those members appointed by the governor shall be residents of the

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state of Rhode Island, at least one of those members shall be selected from a list of names of at

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least five (5) individuals submitted by the speaker of the house of representatives, and at least one

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of those members shall be selected from a list of names of at least five (5) individuals submitted by

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the president of the senate. Additionally, at least eight (8) members shall be selected by the governor

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from a list of names of individuals submitted by the chair of the board of trustees. The remaining

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eight (8) voting members shall be self-perpetuating members appointed by the board pursuant to

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rules adopted by the board regarding the nomination and appointment of members and shall serve

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terms as defined by the board pursuant to the adopted rules and be eligible for reappointment. In

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making these appointments the board shall give due consideration to recommendations from the

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president of the university of Rhode Island. All members shall be appointed for a term of three (3)

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years and shall be eligible for reappointment. In addition, the president of the University of Rhode

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Island shall appoint one faculty member and one student member who shall be a full-time student

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in good standing at the university and who shall both serve in a non-voting, ex officio capacity for

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a single two (2) year term. The chair of the board of education and the chair of the council on

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postsecondary education shall serve in a non-voting, ex officio capacity on the board of trustees.

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     (c) A majority of the board shall elect the chair of the board from among the seventeen (17)

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voting board members pursuant to rules and regulations adopted by the board establishing the

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procedure for electing a chair.

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     (d) Public members of the board shall be removable by the appointing authority of the

 

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member for cause only, and removal solely for partisan or personal reasons unrelated to capacity

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or fitness for the office shall be unlawful. No removal shall be made for any cause except after ten

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(10) days' notice in writing of specific charges, with opportunity for the member to be present in

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person and with counsel at a public hearing before the appointing authority, to introduce witnesses

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and documentary evidence in his or her own defense, and to confront and cross-examine adversary

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witnesses; and appeal shall lie to the superior court from the governor's determination.

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     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 EDUCATION -- UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND

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     This act would provide that the University of Rhode Island Board of Trustees meeting

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requirement for a quorum is ten (10) voting members. The act would further provide that a

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seventeen (17) member board would be appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of

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the senate.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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