2018 -- H 7245

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LC003866

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2018

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY THE IMPACT,

BENEFITS, AND FISCAL RAMIFICATIONS OF CREATING AN OFFICE OF INSPECTOR

GENERAL IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

     Introduced By: Representatives Shanley, Lancia, Barros, Walsh, and Vella-Wilkinson

     Date Introduced: January 19, 2018

     Referred To: House Finance

     WHEREAS, According to the Association of State and Local Inspector General

Agencies, thirty-five states have established singular or multiple Offices of Inspector General

with jurisdiction over all or specific state agencies; now, therefore be it

      RESOLVED, That a special legislative commission be and the same is hereby created

consisting of nine (9) members: four (4) of whom shall be members of the Rhode Island House of

Representatives, not more than three (3) from the same political party, to be appointed by the

Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be the Attorney General, or designee; one of whom

shall be the General Treasurer, or designee; one of whom shall be the Lieutenant Governor, or

designee; one of whom shall be the Secretary of State, or designee; and one of whom shall be the

Director of the Department of Administration, or designee.

     In lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to a permanent advisory

commission, a legislative study commission, or any commission created by a General Assembly

resolution, the appointing authority may appoint a member of the general public to serve in lieu

of a legislator, provided that the majority leader or the minority leader of the political party which

is entitled to the appointment consents to the member of the general public.

     The purpose of said commission shall be to make a comprehensive study of:

     (1) The benefits and ramifications/fiscal impact of creating an independent Office of

Inspector General to prevent, detect, and identify fraud, waste, abuse and mismanagement in the

expenditure of public funds in the State of Rhode Island;

     (2) Determine the appointment/election and removal authority for the position of

Inspector General; and

     (3) Establish funding source for the Office of Inspector General.

     Forthwith upon 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 from among the

legislators.

     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 no later than February 5, 2019, and said commission shall expire on

May 5, 2019.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY THE IMPACT,

BENEFITS, AND FISCAL RAMIFICATIONS OF CREATING AN OFFICE OF INSPECTOR

GENERAL IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

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     This resolution would create a nine (9) member special legislative study commission

whose purpose it would be to make a comprehensive study of the benefits, ramifications/fiscal

impact, cost and appointment/election and removal process for creating an Office of Inspector

General for the State of Rhode Island, and who would report back to the House of

Representatives no later than February 5, 2019, and whose life would expire on May 5, 2019.

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LC003866

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