| R 239 |
| 2018 -- H 7975 Enacted 05/15/2018 |
| H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N |
| CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO ENCOURAGE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WITHIN BLACKSTONE VALLEY |
| Introduced By: Representatives Marszalkowski, Morin, Tobon, O`Grady, and Newberry |
| Date Introduced: March 16, 2018 |
| WHEREAS, Sound economic development is essential to the future of the Blackstone |
| Valley, consisting of the communities of Burrillville, Central Falls, Cumberland, Glocester, |
| Lincoln, North Providence, North Smithfield, Pawtucket, Smithfield, and Woonsocket; now, |
| therefore be it |
| RESOLVED, That a special legislative commission be and the same is hereby created |
| consisting of eighteen (18) members: three (3) of whom shall be members of the House of |
| Representatives representing communities in the Blackstone Valley, not more than two (2) from |
| the same political party, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be the |
| President of Bryant University, or designee; one of whom shall be the President and CEO of the |
| Northern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce, or designee; one of whom shall be the Rhode |
| Island Secretary of Commerce, or designee; one of whom shall be the Executive Director of the |
| Pawtucket Foundation, or designee; one of whom shall be the Project Coordinator of the Broad |
| Street Regeneration Initiative, or designee; one of whom shall be the Chairman/Executive |
| Director of the Downtown Woonsocket Collaborative, or designee; one of whom shall be the |
| Chair of the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council, or designee; one of whom shall be the |
| Executive Director of the Rhode Island Manufacturers Association, or designee; three (3) of |
| whom shall be representatives of small business owners with not more than twenty (20) |
| employees, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; three (3) of whom shall be |
| representatives of large business owners with more than twenty (20) employees, to be appointed |
| by the Speaker of the House; and one of whom shall be an attorney with zoning and business |
| development experience, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House. |
| 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 said commission shall be to make a comprehensive study and make |
| recommendations to foster and promote the economic growth of the Blackstone Valley in order to |
| promote a stable and diversified local economy and enhance the quality of life, including, but not |
| limited to: |
| (1) Recommending strategies that promote and enhance responsible economic growth in |
| the community; |
| (2) Methods to support the continued success of existing business and industry; |
| (3) Pathways to produce a business climate that encourages new business and industry to |
| locate in the area; and |
| (4) Policies that support the overall economic welfare of the Blackstone Valley, while |
| preserving the natural beauty. |
| 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 a chairperson from among the |
| legislators. |
| 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 Speaker of the House 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 |
| House of Representatives no later than February 5, 2019, and said commission shall expire on |
| May 5, 2019. |
| ======== |
| LC004425 |
| ======== |