04-R 368

2004 -- H 7887 SUBSTITUTE A

Enacted 06/24/04

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

CREATING A SPECIAL COMMISSION TO STUDY TRANSIT SERVICE IN THE STATE

OF RHODE ISLAND

Introduced By: Representatives McNamara, and Handy

Date Introduced: February 12, 2004

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

consisting of ten (10) members: one of whom shall be from the house of representatives, to be

appointed by the speaker; one of whom shall be from the senate, to be appointed by the senate

president; one of whom shall be the director of the Rhode Island department of transportation, or

designee; one of whom shall be the general manager of the Rhode Island public transit authority,

or designee; one of whom shall be the director of the department of elderly affairs, or designee;

one of whom shall be a representative of the environmental community appointed by the senate

president; one of whom shall be a representative of an economic development group, to be

appointed by the senate president; one of whom shall be a representative from labor, to be

appointed by the speaker; one of whom shall be a representative from the business community, to

be appointed by the speaker; and one of whom shall be the executive secretary of the Governor's

Commission on Disabilities, or designee.

     In lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to a permanent advisory

commission, a legislative study commission, or any commission created by a general assembly

resolution, the appointing authority may appoint a member of the general public to serve in lieu

of a legislator; provided, that the majority leader or the minority leader of the political party

which is entitled to the appointment consents to the appointment of the member of the general

public.

      The purpose of said commission shall be to study all aspects of transit, including, but not

limited to: (a) ways to increase paying ridership; (b) financial issues the Rhode Island public

transit authority faces; (c) ways to maximize the level of transit service the state can afford on a

long-term sustainable basis, thus allowing the authority to responsibly plan ahead for future

improvements, and its customers to plan ahead with some assurance of future service levels; and

(d) ways to measure performance of service.

     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

General Assembly on or before February 25, 2005 and said commission shall expire on April 22,

2005.

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LC01920/SUB A

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