2024 -- S 3147

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LC006240

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2024

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J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

PROVIDING FOR A BI-PARTISAN PREPARATORY COMMISSION TO ASSEMBLE

INFORMATION ON CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTIONS IN PREPARATION FOR A VOTE

BY THE QUALIFIED ELECTORS ON THE HOLDING OF A CONSTITUTIONAL

CONVENTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE XIV SECTION 2 OF THE RHODE

ISLAND CONSTITUTION

     

     Introduced By: Senator Dawn M. Euer

     Date Introduced: June 07, 2024

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

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     WHEREAS, Under the terms of Section 2 of Article XIV of Amendments and Revisions

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to the Rhode Island Constitution the question "Shall there be a convention to amend or revise the

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constitution?" must appear on the ballot at the general election, to be held on November 5, 2024;

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and

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     WHEREAS, Section 2 of Article XIV further provides that "Prior to a vote by the

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qualified electors on the holding of a convention, the general assembly…shall provide for a bi-

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partisan preparatory commission to assemble information on constitutional questions for the

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electors…"; now, therefore be it

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     RESOLVED, That such Preparatory Commission shall consist of twelve (12) members,

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appointed as herein provided, to serve until the submission of their final report; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint three (3)

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members of the House of Representatives; the House Minority Leader shall appoint one member

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of the House of Representatives; the President of the Senate shall appoint three (3) members of

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the Senate; the Senate Minority Leader shall appoint one member of the Senate; and four (4) of

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whom shall be members of the public, none of whom shall be a holder of any elective public

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office and shall be appointed as follows, one by the Speaker of the House, one by the House

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Minority Leader, one by the President of the Senate, and one by the Senate Minority Leader; and

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be it further

 

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     RESOLVED, That the Preparatory Commission shall report its findings to the Governor,

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the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President of the Senate, and to the public,

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through the news media, no later than September 1, 2024. Forthwith upon the passage of this

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resolution, the members of the commission shall meet at the call of the Speaker of the House and

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the President of the Senate and shall organize and select from among themselves two (2) co-

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chairpersons, one of whom shall be a member of the House of Representatives and one of whom

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shall be a member of the Senate. Vacancies in said commission shall be filled in like manner as

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the original appointment. Members shall serve until submission of their final report. The

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membership of said commission shall receive no compensation for their services but shall be

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allowed their travel and necessary expenses. The commission may engage such clerical, technical

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and other assistance as it may deem necessary to accomplish this purpose. The commission may

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make use of such sources and means of gathering information pertinent to the fulfillment of its

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charge as it may deem appropriate. All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such

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advice and information, documentary and otherwise, to said commission and its agents as is

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deemed necessary or desirable by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this resolution. The

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Joint Committee on Legislative Services is hereby authorized and requested to provide suitable

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quarters for said commission.

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LC006240

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

PROVIDING FOR A BI-PARTISAN PREPARATORY COMMISSION TO ASSEMBLE

INFORMATION ON CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTIONS IN PREPARATION FOR A VOTE

BY THE QUALIFIED ELECTORS ON THE HOLDING OF A CONSTITUTIONAL

CONVENTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE XIV SECTION 2 OF THE RHODE

ISLAND CONSTITUTION

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     This resolution would provide for a twelve (12) member bi-partisan commission to

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assemble information on constitutional questions in preparation for a vote by electors on holding

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a constitutional convention, and who would report back by September 1, 2024.

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LC006240

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