2022 -- H 8124

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LC005703

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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, McGaw, Tanzi, Carson, Speakman,
Ranglin-Vassell, Donovan, Amore, and Craven

     Date Introduced: April 08, 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 initial members, with the

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

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and 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

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president of the university of Rhode Island, the chair of the board of education and the chair of the

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

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trustees. Six (6) of the members initially appointed pursuant to this section shall serve terms of

 

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

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two (2) years, including the member appointed from the list submitted by the speaker of the house

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of representatives and the member appointed from the list submitted by the president of the senate;

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and, four (4) members initially appointed pursuant to this section shall serve terms of one year.

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Thirteen (13) A majority of voting members of the board shall constitute a quorum and the vote of

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a majority of those present and voting shall be required 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 and the chair

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of the board of trustees of the university of Rhode Island and at least three (3) of those members

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appointed by the governor shall be residents of the state of Rhode Island, at least one of those

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

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speaker of the house of representatives, and at least one of those members shall be selected from a

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list of names of at least five (5) individuals submitted by the president of the senate. 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.

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The faculty member shall serve for a single two (2) year term. The student member shall serve for

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up to two (2) one-year terms. The president of the university of Rhode Island, the chair of the board

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of education and the chair of the council on postsecondary education shall serve in a non-voting,

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ex officio capacity of 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 Members of the board shall be removable by the appointing authority

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of the member governor for cause only (including, but not limited to, for repeated failure to attend

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meetings), and removal solely for partisan or personal reasons unrelated to capacity or fitness for

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the office shall be unlawful. In making decisions to remove a member, the governor shall give due

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consideration to recommendations from the chair of the board of trustees of the university of Rhode

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Island. No removal shall be made for any cause except after ten (10) days' notice in writing of

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specific charges, with opportunity for the member to be present in person and with counsel at a

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public hearing before the appointing authority, to introduce witnesses and documentary evidence

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in his or her own defense, and to confront and cross-examine adversary witnesses; and appeal shall

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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 modify the process for the appointment and removal of the university of

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Rhode Island's board of trustees. The act would transfer all appointments to the governor subject

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to the advice and consent of the senate to serve on the board for terms of three (3) years. The act

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would also allow the president of the university of Rhode Island to appoint one faculty member

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and one student in non-voting, ex officio capacities.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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