R 196

2003 -- H 5578 SUBSTITUTE A AS AMENDED

Enacted 05/14/03

H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY THE SIMPLIFICATION AND CLARIFICATION OF THE RHODE ISLAND GENERAL LAWS RELATING TO PUBLIC RECORDS

Introduced By: Representatives Ginaitt, Anguilla, McNamara, Menard, and Trillo

Date Introduced: February 11, 2003

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

consisting of nineteen (19) members: three (3) of whom shall be from the house of

representatives, not more than two (2) from the same political party, to be appointed by the

speaker of the house; three (3) of whom shall be a member of the public, to be appointed by the

speaker of the house; one (1) of whom shall be the secretary of state, or designee; one (1) of

whom shall be the attorney general, or designee; one (1) of whom shall be the president of the

AFL/CIO Labor Union, or designee; one (1) of whom shall be the president of the League of

Cities and Towns, or designee; one (1) of whom shall be the chairperson of the University of

Rhode Island, Department of Journalism, or designee; one (1) of whom shall be the chairperson

of the Governor's Commission on Disabilities, or designee; one (1) of whom shall be the director

of Common Cause, or designee; one (1) of whom shall be the executive director of the Rhode

Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence, or designee; one (1) of whom shall be the president

of the Rhode Island Press Association, or designee; one (1) of whom shall be the executive

director of the Rhode Island Commission on Women or designee; one (1) of whom shall be a

retired member of the judiciary appointed by the chief justice of the supreme court; one (1) of

whom shall be the President of the Rhode Island Bar Association, or designee; and one (1) of

whom shall have extensive knowledge in personal privacy issues, to be appointed by the speaker

of the house.

     The purpose of said commission shall be to study and review the Rhode Island general

laws pertaining to access to public records. The commission shall examine any ambiguities or

problems arising from the current law's language and propose recommendations that would

further assist and fully provide members of the public with the important access they need and

deserve in order to guarantee good government and preserve and protect the "public's right to

know."

     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 from among the legislators a

chairperson. 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 joint committee on legislative services 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 on or before February 10, 2004 and said commission shall expire on April 13,

2004.

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LC01820/3

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