2013 -- H 5629

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LC00738

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2013

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A N A C T

RELATING TO GENERAL ASSEMBLY -- LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT COMMISSION ON

FEDERAL FUNDING

     Introduced By: Representatives Marshall, Kennedy, O'Brien, Almeida, and Gallison

     Date Introduced: February 27, 2013

     Referred To: House Finance

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Title 22 of the General Laws entitled "GENERAL ASSEMBLY" is hereby

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amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

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     CHAPTER 14.3

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LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT COMMISSION ON FEDERAL FUNDING

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     22-14.3-1. Establishment -- Purpose -- Membership -- Compensation. -- (a) There is

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established an oversight commission empowered to review federal funds currently held by the

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state or by quasi-public state agencies or instrumentalities. The review shall include, but not be

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limited to, the following as its objectives:

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     (1) The identification and quantifying of federal funds currently held;

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     (2) The conditions or restrictions governing the expenditure of such funds; and

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     (3) The projected timeline for each such expenditure.

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     (b) The commission shall consist of fourteen (14) members all of whom shall be citizens

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and residents of this state; four (4) of whom shall be members of the house of representatives, not

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more than three (3) from the same political party, to be appointed by the speaker; three (3) of

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whom shall be members of the senate, not more than two (2) from the same political party, to be

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appointed by the president of the senate; one of whom shall be the director of administration; four

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(4) of whom shall be members of the general public to be appointed by the governor; one of

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whom shall be the fiscal assistant to the house finance committee; and one of whom shall be the

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auditor general.

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     (c) The public members shall be appointed for terms of three (3) years except for the two

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(2) members originally appointed; one shall be appointed for a term of one year and one shall be

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appointed for a term of two (2) years.

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     (d) The legislative members shall serve a term of two (2) years. The members shall

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annually elect one of them as chairperson of the commission.

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     (e) Any vacancy on the commission, occurring for any reason prior to the expiration of

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the term, including, but not limited to, termination of active membership in the general assembly,

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shall be filled for the unexpired term by the appointing authority in the same manner as the

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original appointment.

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     (f) Any member of the commission may, for cause, be summarily removed from office by

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the appointing authority, which removal shall be subject to judicial review by the superior court,

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and pending that review the member shall not carry out any duties as a commission member.

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     (g) The director of administration, the fiscal assistant to the house finance committee, and

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the auditor general respectively may designate a person to represent them at all commission

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meetings.

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     (h) The members of the commission, except those members from the general public, shall

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receive no salaries but shall be allowed reasonable expenses in the performance of their official

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duties.

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     (i) The members from the general public shall not be compensated for service on the

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board.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC00738

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N A C T

RELATING TO GENERAL ASSEMBLY -- LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT COMMISSION ON

FEDERAL FUNDING

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     This act would establish a legislative oversight commission on federal funding, and

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would provide for its membership and operation.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC00738

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