07-R392

2007 -- H 6313 SUBSTITUTE A

Enacted 06/30/07

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

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY TRANSPORTATION FOR AFTERSCHOOL AND CHILDCARE PROGRAMS

Introduced By: Representatives Sullivan, O`Neill, Slater, Diaz, and Almeida

Date Introduced: April 25, 2007

     WHEREAS, Securing safe, reliable and affordable transportation is a key barrier to

successful afterschool and childcare program participation for children and youth; and

     WHEREAS, Transporting children and youth to afterschool and childcare programs is a

major burden for parents resulting in decreased worker productivity; and

     WHEREAS, Transportation is a primary financial burden on afterschool and childcare

programs, sometimes costing as much as $30,000 per year to transport only 100 children and

youth; and

     WHEREAS, Safely transporting children and youth to and from afterschool and childcare

programs is one of the highest priorities of afterschool and childcare programs and parents; now,

therefore be it

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

created consisting members seventeen (17) members as follows: two (2) of whom shall be

members of the House of Representatives, not more than one from the same political party, to be

appointed by the Speaker; two (2) of whom shall be members of the Senate, not more than one

from the same political party, to be appointed by the President of the Senate; two (2) of whom

shall be representatives from afterschool or childcare programs, of whom one shall be appointed

by the Speaker, and one shall be appointed by the President of the Senate; one of whom shall be a

representative from the Boys & Girls Club, to be appointed by the President of the Senate; one of

whom shall be the Executive Director of the RI Afterschool Plus Alliance, or designee, one of

whom shall be the executive director of the Providence Afterschool Alliance, or designee; one of

whom shall be the President of the RI Child Care Directors Association, or designee; one of

whom shall be the President of the RI School Age Childcare Association, or designee; one of

whom shall be the Chairperson of the State Alliance of Rhode Island YMCAs, or designee; one

of whom shall be the Executive Director of the RI Association of School Committees, or

designee; one of whom shall be the Executive Director of the Rhode Island Superintendents'

Association, or designee; one of whom shall be a representative from the Division of Motor

Vehicles, to be appointed by the director of administration; one of whom shall be a representative

from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, to be appointed by the

commissioner; and one of whom shall be a representative from the Rhode Island Public Transit

Authority, to be appointed by the general manager.

     In lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to the commission, 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 matters related to the transportation

system for afterschool and childcare programs including, but not limited to, transporting students

from schools to and from afterschool and childcare programs, safety of children and youth, cost

of transportation for programs, state regulations concerning transportation of students to and from

afterschool and childcare programs, utilizing public transportation, afterschool and childcare

program's resources for transporting children and youth to off-site locations for program

activities; and to make recommendations on how to improve transportation of children and youth

to and from afterschool and childcare programs in a cost-effective manner.

     Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall meet at

the call of the Speaker of the House of Representatives and organize and shall select, from among

the legislators, a co-chairperson from the House of Representatives and a co-chairperson from 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.

All municipalities, departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such advice and

information, documentary and otherwise, to said commission and its agents as deemed necessary

or desirable by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this resolution. The Commission may

engage, through one or more of its non legislative members, an appropriate research organization

to assist the commission in research for and completion of the report to the General Assembly.

     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 5, 2008, and said commission shall expire on April 5,

2008.

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LC02957/SUB A

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