2013 -- H 6000

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LC02380

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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 STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT - ECONOMIC POLICY

ADVISORY COMMISSION (EPAC)

     Introduced By: Representatives Giarrusso, Newberry, Chippendale, Costa, and Morgan

     Date Introduced: April 23, 2013

     Referred To: House Finance

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Title 42 of the General Laws entitled "STATE AFFAIRS AND

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GOVERNMENT" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

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     CHAPTER 155

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ECONOMIC POLICY ADVISORY COMMISSION (EPAC)

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     42-155-1. Establishment of commission. – There is established within the executive

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department a permanent commission to be known as the "Governor's Advisory Commission on

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Economic Policy", hereinafter referred to as "the commission".

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     42-155-2. Composition of commission. – The commission shall be composed of a

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minimum of seven (7) members, and a maximum of twelve (12) members the governor may

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appoint. The commission shall consist of at least ten (10) nationally-recognized leaders with

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specific expertise, with one representative each from the fields of transportation, housing,

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education, tourism, taxation, workforce development, energy, and healthcare. Two (2) additional

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members may be appointed by the governor without respect to their residency or area of

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expertise. Members will serve at the pleasure of the governor. Initial appointments of one year

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will be made to one-third of the members, two (2) year appointments made to a second one-third

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of the members, and the final one-third of the members will be appointed to a term of three (3)

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years. All terms made subsequent to the first year will be for three (3) year terms. Members

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whose terms are expiring may be appointed to a subsequent term but no member shall serve on

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the commission a total of more than six (6) years or three (3) full terms of whatever duration.

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     42-155-3. Goals of commission. – The goals of the commission shall be: (1) To provide

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the governor and the secretary of economic development with independent counsel and advice

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regarding issues within their individual areas of expertise, and collectively on economic

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development matters.

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     (2) To assist the office of economic development and its staff with the development of a

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measurement regime to establish a baseline and track performance on specific economic

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development goals and objectives, and annually to report publicly on the state's economic

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performance.

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     (3) To identify and recommend elimination of systemic barriers limiting economic

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growth and business development.

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     42-155-4. Leadership. – The governor shall serve as chairman of the commission. The

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commission shall elect from its own membership a vice chairperson, who shall serve until his or

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her successor is elected, and who is authorized to act as chairperson pro tempore of the

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commission. The commission shall appoint an executive secretary who shall be a full-time

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employee of the office of economic development to serve the commission as required. The office

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of economic development will provide staff, as required, to the commission.

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     42-155-5. Meetings. – The commission shall meet at least twice annually, at a time and

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place designated by the governor. At least one of its annual meetings will be held in Rhode

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Island.

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     42-155-6. Compensation and expenses. – The members of the commission shall each be

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compensated at the rate of twelve thousand dollars ($12,000) per year, and will, at the discretion

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of the governor, be reimbursed the actual cost of their travel and other expense associated with

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their attendance at meetings and as incurred in the performance of their official duties.

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Appointees shall receive no additional compensation or benefits.

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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 STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT - ECONOMIC POLICY

ADVISORY COMMISSION (EPAC)

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     This act would create the "governor's advisory commission on economic policy", and

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provide for the composition and duties of its members and their compensation.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC02380

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