04-R 369

2004 -- H 8109

Enacted 06/24/04

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

CREATING A SPECIAL JOINT COMMISSION TO STUDY A STATEWIDE COORDINATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUES, INFORMATION AND RESOURCES FOR RHODE ISLAND SCHOOLS

Introduced By: Representatives Handy, Enos, Dennigan, Aubin, and Giannini

Date Introduced: February 24, 2004

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

consisting of twenty-four (24) members: three (3) of whom shall be members of 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 members of the Senate, not more than two (2)

from the same political party, to be appointed by the President of the Senate; one (1) of whom

shall be the President of the Rhode Island School Committee Association, or designee; one (1) of

whom shall be the Executive Director of the Rhode Island School Superintendents’ Association,

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

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

School Maintenance Directors, or designee; one (1) of whom shall be the Commissioner of

Elementary and Secondary Education for Rhode Island, or designee; one (1) of who shall be the

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

Director of the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, or designee; one (1) of

whom shall be the Executive Director of the American Lung Association of Rhode Island, or

designee; one (1) of whom shall be the President of the School Health and Safety Association,

Inc., or designee; one (1) of whom shall be the Director of the Department of Labor and Training

or the Chief of the Division of Occupational Safety, or designee; one (1) of whom shall be the

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

the President of the Rhode Island Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, or designee;

one (1) of whom shall be President of the National Education Association of Rhode Island, or

designee; one (1) of whom shall be the President of the Rhode Island Federation of Teachers and

Health Professionals, or designee; one (1) of whom shall be the President of the Rhode Island

Certified School Nurse-Teachers, Inc., or designee; one (1) of whom shall be the Associate

Director of the Rhode Island Division of Workers’ Compensation, or designee; one (1) of whom

shall be the Rhode Island State Fire Marshall, or designee; and (1) of whom shall be the Director

of the Rhode Island Committee on Occupational Safety and Health, 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 consent to the appointment of the member of the general

public.

     The purpose of said commission shall be to develop a comprehensive statewide plan that

would effectively coordinate information, initiatives, and to identify resources, training and

educational needs, as they pertain to school environmental health and safety issues.

     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 Speaker of the House 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 no later than January 25, 2005 and said commission shall expire on April 25,

2005.

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LC02440

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