11-R435
2011 -- H 6306 AS AMENDED
Enacted 07/12/11
J O I N T R E S
O L U T I O N
CREATING A
SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY WYATT DETENTION FACILITY
Introduced By: Representatives Silva, and McLaughlin
Date Introduced: June 28, 2011
WHEREAS, It is in the public interest to encourage economic
development projects
which enhance the economic welfare and happiness of the inhabitants
of the state; and
WHEREAS, It is in the public interest to ensure that when state laws
are enacted to
facilitate the financing of, or provide tax benefits to, these
projects that the State review the
projects to ensure that they yield the public benefit
expected; and
WHEREAS, Wyatt Detention
Facility is operated by the Central Falls Detention Facility
Corporation (CFDFC), a non-profit corporation created
in 1991 through an Intergovernmental
Agreement (IGA) between the United States Marshal
Service (Marshal’s Service) and the City;
and
WHEREAS, The creation of CFDFC was authorized by R.I. General Law
45-54-1 et seq.
(the Detention Center Act),
which allows municipalities to pursue economic development through
the acquisition or construction of correctional
facilities; and
WHEREAS, As a tax-exempt entity, Wyatt was expected to make an annual
impact fee
payment to the City in order to still provide the City with
the benefit of economic development -
tax revenue for the City - but would do so in the form of
an impact fee payment rather than taxes;
and
WHEREAS, The non-payment of impact fees by the Wyatt Detention
Facility is a
contributing factor to the fiscal challenges facing the City; now,
therefore be it
RESOLVED,
That a special joint study commission to be known as
the “Special Joint
Commission to Study the
Wyatt Detention Facility,” is hereby created consisting of seven (7)
members: two (2) of whom shall be members of the Senate, not
more than one of whom shall be
from the same political party, to be appointed by the
Senate President; two (2) of whom shall be
members of the House, not more than one of whom shall be from
the same political party, to be
appointed by the Speaker of the House; city clerk of
Falls Receiver; and two (2)
experts in the public safety field, one of whom shall be the Director of
the Rhode Island Department of Public Safety, or his or
her designee; and one of whom shall be
the Commissioner of the Rhode Island Department of Public
Safety, or his or her designee.
In
lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to an 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.
The
purpose of said commission shall be to make a comprehensive study of Wyatt
Detention
Facility and its operations and finances.
Forthwith
upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall meet and
organize and shall select a chairperson.
Vacancies
in said commission shall be filled in like manner as the original appointment.
The
members of said commission shall receive no compensation for their services.
The
Wyatt Detention Facility, including but not limited to its Board of Directors
and any
and all staff, the City of
such advice and information, documentary and otherwise, to
said commission and 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
meeting space for said commission; and be it further
RESOLVED,
That the commission shall report periodically on its
findings and will
report recommendations to improve the efficiency and
financial stability of the organization to
the Senate and the House with a copy to the Director of
Revenue and the Governor’s Office no
later than December 1, 2011, and said commission shall
expire on February 1, 2012.
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LC02990
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