2023 -- H 6424

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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A N   A C T

VALIDATING AND RATIFYING AMENDMENTS TO THE HOME RULE CHARTER OF

THE TOWN OF COVENTRY

     Introduced By: Representatives Noret, Chippendale, Nardone, Roberts, and Serpa

     Date Introduced: May 19, 2023

     Referred To: House Municipal Government & Housing

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. In all respects in which the amendments to the home rule charter of the town

of Coventry, which amendments were adopted and approved by the electors of the town of

Coventry on November 8, 2022, may require ratification, confirmation, validation, or enactment

by the general assembly, but in no other respects, the provisions of said amendments to the home

rule charter of the town of Coventry are hereby ratified, confirmed, validated, and enacted. It is the

express intention of the general assembly, by the passage of this act, to give effect to, ratify,

confirm, validate, and enact those provisions of the said amendments to the home rule charter of

the town of Coventry that require ratification, confirmation, validation, or enactment and, by the

passage of this act, the legislature does hereby ratify, confirm, validate, and enact said provisions.

Nothing in this act shall be construed to abrogate or impair the powers now or hereafter granted to

towns by the home rule amendment and other applicable laws of the State of Rhode Island or those

rights retained by said town of Coventry in its home rule charter.

     SECTION 2. If any provision of this act, or the application thereof, to the town of Coventry

or to any person or circumstances, is deemed invalid for any reason, the remainder of this act, or

the application of such provision, to aid town or other persons or circumstances, shall not be

affected thereby and, to this end, the provisions of this act are declared to be severable.

     SECTION 3. Section 16-2-5 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-2 entitled "School

Committees and Superintendents [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island Board of Education

Act]" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     16-2-5. Composition of city or town school committees — Election and terms of

members — Vacancies.

     The school committee of each city or town shall consist of three (3) residents of the city or

town, or of any number as at the present time constitute the committee. In cities or towns having

annual elections of city or town officers the committee shall be divided as equally as may be into

three (3) classes whose several terms of office shall expire at the end of three (3) years from the

dates of their respective elections. In cities or towns having biennial elections the committee shall

be divided as equally as may be into two (2) classes whose several terms of office shall expire at

the end of four (4) years from the dates of their respective elections. As the office of each class

shall become vacant, the vacancy or vacancies shall be filled by the city or town at its regular city

or town meeting for the election of state or city or town officers, or by the city or town council at

its next meeting after this. In case of a vacancy by death, resignation, or otherwise than as is

provided in this section, the vacancy shall be filled by the city or town council until the next regular

city or town meeting for the election of state or city or town officers, when it shall be filled for the

unexpired term as is provided in this section. This section shall not apply to the cities of Providence,

Central Falls, Woonsocket, or the Town towns of Coventry and North Smithfield.

     SECTION 4. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

VALIDATING AND RATIFYING AMENDMENTS TO THE HOME RULE CHARTER OF

THE TOWN OF COVENTRY

***

     This act would validate and ratify amendments to the Home Rule Charter of the town of

Coventry, which amendments were adopted and approved by the electors of the town of Coventry

on November 8, 2022.

     This act would also provide an exception that the school committee members serve four

(4) year terms.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC003029

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