| R 214 |
| 2024 -- H 7977 SUBSTITUTE A Enacted 04/11/2024 |
| H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N |
| CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY THE ABILITY OF THE RHODE ISLAND EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM TO OFFER DEGREE OR CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS WITHIN THE STATE TO PROVIDE A SUPPLY AND A PIPELINE OF PLANNERS, PLANNING TECHNICIANS, AND PLANNING STAFF |
Introduced By: Representatives Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Cruz, Morales, Speakman, Spears, Craven, Azzinaro, Solomon, and Kazarian |
| Date Introduced: March 05, 2024 |
| WHEREAS, There are challenges to development in Rhode Island including the |
| significant amount of time to obtain local permits, environmental challenges and restrictive and |
| outdated local zoning and planning regulations and comprehensive plans; and |
| WHEREAS, At this time, it is imperative to undertake a broad based review of the ability |
| to improve upon in-state educational opportunities, programs and certifications; now therefore be |
| it |
| RESOLVED, That a special legislative commission be and the same is hereby created |
| consisting of thirteen (13) members: one of whom shall be the Commissioner of the Rhode Island |
| Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner, or designee; one of whom shall be the President of |
| the University of Rhode Island, or designee; one of whom shall be the President of Rhode Island |
| College, or designee; one of whom shall be the President of the Community College of Rhode |
| Island, or designee; one of whom shall be the Associate Director of the State of Rhode Island |
| Division of Statewide Planning, or designee; one of whom shall be the secretary of the Rhode |
| Island department of housing, or designee; one of whom shall be the President of the American |
| Planning Association-Rhode Island Division, or designee; two (2) of whom shall be municipal |
| planners, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House, one of whom shall be from a city or town |
| with a population of less than twenty-five thousand, and one of whom shall be from a city or |
| town with a population of twenty-five thousand or greater; one of whom shall be the Executive |
| Director of the Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns, or designee; one of whom shall be a |
| teacher from a career technical education "CTE" school, to be appointed by the Speaker of the |
| House; and two (2) of whom shall be members of the public, one of whom shall possess |
| significant professional housing experience, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House. |
| The purpose of said commission shall be to undertake a comprehensive study and a broad |
| review of the ability of the Rhode Island educational system to offer degrees of certificate |
| programs within the State to provide a supply and a pipeline of planners, planning technicians and |
| planning staff, and provide recommendations based upon this study and review, that will enable |
| the State to ensure and promote the aforementioned educational opportunities. |
| Forthwith upon the 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 |
| for said commission; and be it further |
| RESOLVED, That the commission shall report its findings and recommendations to the |
| House of Representatives on or before April 1, 2025, and said commission shall expire on June |
| 30, 2025. |
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| LC005506/SUB A |
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