04-R 286

2004 -- H 7736 SUBSTITUTE B

Enacted 05/28/04

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: Representative Gordon D. Fox

Date Introduced: February 11, 2004

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

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

constitution?” must appear on the ballot at the general election, to be held on November 2, 2004;

and

     WHEREAS, Section 2 of Article XIV further provides that “prior to a vote by the

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

partisan preparatory commission to assemble information on constitutional questions for the

electors…”; now, therefore be it

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

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

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

members of the House of Representatives; the House Minority Leader shall appoint one (1)

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

members of the Senate; the Senate Minority Leader shall appoint one (1) member of the Senate;

and four (4) of whom shall be members of the public, none of whom shall be a holder of any

elective public office and shall be appointed as follows; one(1) by the Speaker of the House, one

by the House Minority Leader, one by the President of the Senate, and one (1) by the Senate

Minority Leader; and be it further

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

the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President of the Senate, the minority leaders of

the House and Senate, and to the public, through the news media, no later than July 30, 2004.

     Forthwith upon the 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 themselves two

(2) co-chairpersons, one of whom shall be a member of the House of Representatives and one of

whom shall be a member of the Senate. 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 but

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

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

     The commission may make use of such sources and means of gathering information

pertinent to the fulfillment of its charge as it may deem appropriate.

     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 requested to provide suitable quarters

for said commission.

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LC02298/SUB B

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