| R 383 |
| 2017 -- H 5340 SUBSTITUTE A Enacted 09/19/2017 |
| J O I N T R E S O L U T I O N |
| CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY THE EFFECTS OF ENACTING A LINE ITEM VETO, POTENTIAL RHODE ISLAND CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS FOR A GOVERNOR RUNOFF, AND REQUIREMENTS FOR THE ELECTION OF THE GOVERNOR |
| Introduced By: Representatives Marshall, O'Brien, Costantino, and Tobon |
| Date Introduced: February 02, 2017 |
| 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 Rhode Island |
| 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 Rhode Island 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 an attorney with a background in Rhode Island Constitutional jurisprudence |
| and research, with a background in economics, finance and/or political science, to be appointed |
| by the Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be a retired educator from a public institution of |
| higher education in Rhode Island, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; one of whom |
| shall be the President of the Rhode Island Society of Certified Public Accountants, or designee; |
| one of whom shall be a retired judge of the Rhode Island Judiciary, to be appointed by the |
| President of the Senate; one of whom shall be a former general officer of the State of Rhode |
| Island, to be appointed jointly by the Speaker of the House and the President of the Senate; one of |
| whom shall be a representative of a large Rhode Island public service employer that has |
| significant knowledge of the state budget process, to be appointed by the President of the Senate. |
| 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 member of the general public. |
| The purpose of the commission shall be to make a comprehensive study of the policy, |
| political, and fiscal considerations of a line item veto in Rhode Island, including but not limited to |
| an examination of the constitutional balance of power between the three branches of government |
| in Rhode Island post- separation of powers, the roles of the Rhode Island legislative and |
| executive branches of government in a modern society and economy, including the relative |
| relationship and responsiveness of each branch to the public pursuant to their constitutional |
| duties, obligations and responsibilities. The commission shall also examine the cost and benefits, |
| both political and fiscal, to a constitutional amendment that would require a run-off election for |
| Governor when one candidate does not receive a majority of the votes cast in a general election. |
| Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall meet at |
| the call of the Speaker of the House and the President of the Senate, to organize and select co- |
| chairpersons from among the legislators, one co-chairperson from each chamber of the |
| legislature. |
| 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 April 5, 2018, and said commission shall expire on May 7, 2018. |
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| LC001177/SUB A |
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