Chapter 359
2003 --
H 5510 SUBSTITUTE A
Enacted 07/17/03
AN ACT
RELATING
TO THE GOVERNOR'S COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES
Introduced
By: Representatives Giannini, Slater, McCauley, Picard, and Handy
Date
Introduced: February 06, 2003
It
is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION
1. Section 42-51-6 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-51 entitled
"Governor's
Commission
on Disabilities" is hereby amended to read as follows:
42-51-6.
Duties. -- It shall be the duty of the commission to work in
cooperation with the
national
council on disability and other interested federal, state, and local agencies,
organizations,
and
employers in:
(1) Promoting on behalf of the people with disabilities and assuring, on behalf
of the
state,
that people with disabilities are afforded the opportunities to exercise all of
the rights and
responsibilities
accorded to citizens of this state;
(2) Arousing community interest in the concerns of people with disabilities
through the
utilization
of whatever community and state resources the commission may deem necessary to
accomplish
the maximum in independent living and human development;
(3) Coordinating compliance with federal and state laws protecting the rights
of
individuals
with disabilities by state agencies; and
(4) Providing technical assistance to public and private agencies, businesses,
and citizens
in
complying with federal and state laws protecting the rights of individuals with
disabilities. ;
and
(5)
From time to time, but not less than once a year, to report to the legislature
and the
governor,
describing the investigations, proceedings, and hearings the commission has
conducted
and
their outcome, the decisions it has rendered, and the other work performed by
it, and make
recommendations
for further legislation concerning abuses and discrimination based on
disability
that
may be desirable.
SECTION
2. Chapter 42-51 of the General Laws entitled "Governor's Commission on
Disabilities"
is hereby amended by adding thereto the following sections:
42-51-6.1. Hearing boards. – (1) The commission's chairperson shall
appoint five (5)
commissioners
as the hearing board for the purpose of conducting hearings and rendering
decisions
on matters relating to the provisions of chapter 87 of title 42 and sections
37-8-15.1 and
42-46-13
within the jurisdiction of the commission.
(2)
Three (3) commissioners shall constitute a quorum of a hearing board.
(3)
The hearing board is empowered to:
(i)
Receive, investigate, and act upon charges of unlawful practices within its
jurisdiction;
and
(ii)
In connection with any investigation or hearing held on any matter within its
jurisdiction
to hold hearings, administer oaths, take the testimony of any person under
oath, and
to
require the production for examination of any books and papers relating to any
matter under
investigation
or in question before the hearing board.
42-51-6.2.
Committees and mediation teams. – (1) The commission is authorized
to
create
advisory committees and mediation teams to perform tasks within the
jurisdiction of the
commission.
(2)
The commission may itself, or it may empower these committees and mediation
teams
to:
(i)
Study the concerns of people with disabilities in reaching the maximum in
independent
living and human development and exercising all of the rights and
responsibilities
accorded
to citizens of this state;
(ii)
Arouse community interest in the concerns of people with disabilities;
(iii)
Foster through community effort or otherwise good will among the groups and
elements
of the population of the state towards people with disabilities; and
(iv)
Attempt by informal methods of conference, persuasion, and conciliation, to
induce
compliance
with matters within the jurisdiction of the commission.
(3)
The committees and teams may make recommendations to the commission for the
development
of policies and procedures in general.
(4)
Advisory committees and mediation teams created by the commission shall be
composed
of representative citizens serving without pay, but with reimbursement for
actual and
necessary
traveling expenses.
(5)
Three (3) members of a committee constitutes a quorum for the purpose of
conducting
the
business of that committee.
SECTION 3. This act
shall take effect upon passage.
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LC01548/SUB
A
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