07-R396

2007 -- S 361 SUBSTITUTE A AS AMENDED

Enacted 07/03/07

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

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO MAKE A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY OF THE IMPACT OF MANDATES ON RHODE ISLAND'S SCHOOL DISTRICTS

Introduced By: Senators Tassoni, Bates, Jabour, Ciccone, and Badeau

Date Introduced: February 13, 2007

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

consisting of twelve (12) 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 of whom shall

be from the Rhode Island Department of Education, to be appointed by the Commissioner of

Elementary and Secondary Education; one of whom shall be the Superintendent of a Rhode

Island school district, to be appointed by the President of the Rhode Island School

Superintendents' Association; one of whom shall be a school committee member of a Rhode

Island school district, to be appointed by the President of the Rhode Island Association of School

committees; one of whom shall be a member of the state advisory committee on disabilities for

special education, to be appointed by the governor; one of whom shall be a member of the Rhode

Island Principal’s Association, to be appointed by the Rhode Island Principal’s Association; and

one of whom shall be a member of the independent schools association, to be appointed by the

independent schools association.

       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 make a comprehensive study of the impact of

mandates on Rhode Island’s School Districts.

      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 no later than January 8, 2008 and said commission shall expire on March 8,

2008.

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LC02040/SUB A/2

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