| Introduced By: Senators Cicilline, Paiva Weed, Kelly and Enos |
| Date Introduced: June 13, 1997 |
| Referred To: Read and Passed |
WHEREAS, As the members of this Senate prepare to celebrate Father's Day on June 15, 1997, it is with great pleasure that we welcome into the ranks of fatherhood a gentleman who has served the citizens of Newport and all of Rhode Island for many years; and
WHEREAS, The Honorable Jeffrey J. Teitz and his lovely wife Paula have recently welcomed young Jonathan Teitz into their family; and
WHEREAS, As our former colleague continues his career of public service as Chief Democratic Legal Counsel on Senator Edward M. Kennedy's Committee on Labor and Human Resources in Washington, D.C., we congratulate him on the joys he will experience from the newest addition to the Teitz family; and
WHEREAS, The Honorable Jeffrey J. Teitz was first elected to the Rhode Island House of Representatives in November 1972.
Prior to becoming Majority Policy Leader in 1993, former Representative Teitz served for fourteen years as Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. He authored a wide range of legislation designed to strengthen the criminal justice system, protect consumers, and open state government to greater public participation. His major legislative achievements while Judiciary Chairman include: the Crime Victims' Bill of Rights, Sentencing and Parole Reforms, the Rhode Island Antitrust Act, the "lemon law" to protect new car buyers, the Environmental Injuries Compensation Act, the Medical Care Quality Assurance Law, the Campaign Finance Reform Act, and legislation strengthening the State's Open Meetings and Open Records Laws; and
WHEREAS, In 1986, Representative Teitz presided over the impeachment of the Chief Justice of the State Supreme Court, the first impeachment proceeding conducted by the Rhode Island Legislature in over 140 years. He also headed investigations into election law fraud, misconduct by medical care providers, and the failure of the State's witness protection program. In each of these cases, he authored legislation to remedy the abuses uncovered. In 1991, the Governor named him to chair the Special Investigative Commission to determine the causes of the collapse of the State's $1.8 billion private deposit insurance system. The Commission's inquiry publicly exposed a pattern of misconduct and fraud by RISDIC insiders which led to the insolvency of the State's largest credit unions; and
WHEREAS, On the national level, Jeffrey Teitz served in the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) as: Chairman of the Law & Justice Committee, Chairman of the Criminal Justice Committee, Chairman of the Task Force on Federalism, and Vice Chairman of the Health Committee. He served three terms as a member of NCSL's Executive Committee, the organization's highest governing body. He was also a member of the Legal Advisory Board of the State and Local Legal Center in Washington, D.C. He has been a delegate representing Rhode Island at the last five successive Democratic National Conventions; and
WHEREAS, The Honorable Jeffrey Teitz has been the recipient of the Legislator of the Year Award from Common Cause of Rhode Island, the Justice Assistance Award for his work on behalf of the victims of crime, the Rhode Island Trial Lawyers Association Citizen of the Year Award in "recognition of his contributions to the cause of justice in Rhode Island," the John Fogarty Memorial Award, from the Governor's Commission on the Handicapped, and the Newport County Council of Community Services Award in recognition of his legislative advocacy of human services programs; and
WHEREAS, Jeffrey Teitz is a magna cum laude graduate of Brown University (AB-1975) and the Harvard Law School (JD-1978). He has practiced law in Rhode Island for nearly twenty years, and in addition to being regarded as a person of unquestioned integrity, he was sought after by his legislative colleagues for his advice on many issues. He is currently the Chief Democratic Legal Counsel on Senator Edward M. Kennedy's Committee on Labor and Human Resources in the United States Senate; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations hereby offers its sincerest congratulations to the Honorable Jeffrey J. Teitz in recognition of the recent adoption of a son, Jonathan. This Senate, moreover, wishes its friend great happiness as he celebrates his first Father's Day with his newly expanded family; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the Honorable Jeffrey J. Teitz.
