Chapter 248

2003 -- H 5814 SUBSTITUTE A

Enacted 07/17/03

AN ACT

RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES

Introduced By: Representative S Anderson

Date Introduced: February 11, 2003

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Sections 45-13.1-1, 45-13.1-2 and 45-13.1-3 of the General Laws in

Chapter 45-13.1 entitled "State-local Relations Commission" are hereby amended to read as

follows:

45-13.1-1. Findings and purpose. -- (a) The legislature finds and declares that there is a

need for a permanent intergovernmental body to strengthen and facilitate relationships between

the state government, the cities and towns, the school districts, and other local governments in the

state, including, but not limited to, the following:

      (1) Perform the functions and roles of:

      (i) Providing a forum for discussion of long-range state-local issues;

      (ii) Promoting experimentation in intergovernmental processes, both state-local and

inter-local;

      (iii) Developing possible solutions, including reviewing and proposing legislative

remedies, for state-local problems; and

      (iv) Providing opportunities for local government officials to become more

knowledgeable about their duties and responsibilities and the powers and functions of state and

local government.

      (2) Study and report on issues like :

      (i) The existing, necessary, and desirable relationships between and among local

governments, school districts, and the state;

      (ii) The powers and functions of local governments and school committees, especially

the adequacy of their fiscal resources to effectuate the powers and functions of local government

and to adequately fund local education;

      (iii) The existing, necessary, and desirable allocation of state and local responsibilities

and fiscal resources;

      (iv) Emerging local problems and the role of the state government concerning them;

      (v) Impact of federal or state judicial decisions or the impact of existing or proposed

federal, state legislative, or executive policies upon the capacities and effectiveness of local

governments;

      (vi) The special problems in interstate areas facing the local governments, intrastate

regional units, and areawide bodies, studies where possible to be conducted in conjunction with

those of a pertinent sister state commission(s); and

      (vii) Any constitutional amendments and statutory enactments required to implement

proposals of the commission.; and

(viii) The impact of federal and state mandates on school districts and local governments

45-13.1-2. Commission created. -- There is created the state-local relations commission

(SLRC), "the commission". The Stephen J. Anderson commission on state local relations

(SLRC), “the commission”.

45-13.1-3. Membership.[Effective January 7, 2003.] -- (a) The commission shall be

composed of seventeen (17) members, as follows:

      (1) Five (5) municipal officials appointed by The president of the Rhode Island league of

cities and towns or his or her designee and the president of the Rhode Island association of school

committees or his or her designee;

      (2) Three (3) state executive officials appointed by the governor, one of whom is the

chief of the office of municipal affairs in the department of administration, division of planning;

      (3) Three (3) state representatives appointed by the speaker of the house, not more than

two (2) from the same political party;

      (4) Two (2) state senators, or other persons appointed by the president of the senate, not

more than one from the same political party; and

      (5) The executive director for the league of cities and towns, and the executive director

of the Rhode Island public expenditure council and the executive director of the Rhode Island

association of school committees; and

      (6) One who shall represent local school committees to be appointed by the speaker of

the house, and one who shall represent local school superintendents committees to be appointed

by the president of the senate. ; and

(7) Two (2) who shall represent local municipal governments, one to be appointed by the

speaker of the house and one who shall be appointed by the president of the senate.

      (b) The members of the commission shall elect a chairperson, a vice chairperson, and a

secretary by a majority vote of the commission.

      (c) Should any member cease to be an elected official, officer, or employee of the unit or

agency he or she is appointed to represent, his or her membership on the commission shall

terminate immediately and a new member shall be appointed in the same manner as his or her

predecessor to fill the unexpired term.

      (d) The commission shall be subject to review by the legislative oversight commission as

defined in chapter 14 of title 22.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.     

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LC01208/SUB A

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