| R 282 |
| 2017 -- S 0556 Enacted 05/30/2017 |
| S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N |
| CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO REVIEW AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING THE UPDATING, STREAMLINING AND ENSURING RELEVANCE OF RHODE ISLAND GENERAL LAWS TITLE 16 |
| Introduced By: Senators DiPalma, Gallo, Conley, Metts, and Seveney |
| Date Introduced: March 15, 2017 |
| WHEREAS, Title 16 of the Rhode Island General Laws is the set of laws that govern |
| education in Rhode Island; and |
| WHEREAS, Many laws exist that are no longer relevant to a twenty-first century |
| education; and |
| WHEREAS; It is timely that these laws are reviewed to ensure that no statutory barrier |
| exists to provide our students with a world class education; now, therefore be it |
| RESOLVED, That a special legislative commission be and the same is hereby created |
| consisting of fourteen (14) members: five (5) of whom shall be members of the Senate, not more |
| than four (4) from the same political party, to be appointed by the President of the Senate; one of |
| whom shall be the Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education, or designee; one of |
| whom shall be the Commissioner of Postsecondary Education, or designee; one of whom shall be |
| the President of the Rhode Island Association of School Committees, or designee; one of whom |
| shall be the President of the Rhode Island Association of School Principals, or designee; one of |
| whom shall be the President of the Rhode Island School Superintendents’ Association, or |
| designee; one of whom shall be the President of the National Education Association of Rhode |
| Island; one of whom shall be the President of the Rhode Island Federation of Teachers and Health |
| Professionals; one of whom shall be the President of the Rhode Island PTA, or designee; and one |
| of whom shall be the Executive Director of Young Voices, 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 the said commission shall be to conduct a comprehensive review and |
| make recommendations to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the |
| Office of the Postsecondary Commission and any other state agency regarding the updating, |
| streamlining and ensuring relevance of the laws contained in Rhode Island General Laws Title |
| 16. |
| Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall meet at |
| the call of the Chair, who shall be appointed by the President of 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 departments and agencies of the state, shall furnish such advice and information, |
| documentary or 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 |
| President of the Senate on or before March 1, 2018, and said commission shall expire on July 1, |
| 2018. |
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| LC001806 |
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