| R 384 |
| 2025 -- H 6255 SUBSTITUTE A Enacted 06/26/2025 |
| J O I N T R E S O L U T I O N |
| CREATING A SPECIAL JOINT LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY THE RETURN OF CENTRAL FALLS SCHOOLS TO LOCAL GOVERNANCE |
Introduced By: Representatives Giraldo, Voas, Alzate, Cruz, Morales, Biah, Felix, Shallcross Smith, Casimiro, and Phillips |
| Date Introduced: April 23, 2025 |
| WHEREAS, The City of Central Falls does not currently have operational or fiscal |
| responsibility over its public schools; and |
| WHEREAS, The City of Central Falls, through resolution of the City Council, expressed |
| unanimous support in possessing operational and fiscal responsibility over its public schools; and |
| WHEREAS, The responsibility over local concerns are best understood and addressed by |
| the elected and appointed officials of a given locality; and |
| WHEREAS, The residents of the City of Central Falls are uniquely qualified to |
| administer the public education of their children; now, therefore be it |
| RESOLVED, That a special joint legislative study commission be and the same is hereby |
| created consisting of seven (7) members: one of whom shall be the President of the Senate, or |
| designee; one of whom shall be the Speaker of the House of Representatives, or designee; one of |
| whom shall be the Governor of the State of Rhode Island, or designee; one of whom shall be the |
| Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education, or designee; one of whom shall be the |
| Mayor of the City of Central Falls, or designee; one of whom shall be a designee of the Rhode |
| Island Federation of Teachers and Health Professionals, to be appointed upon an agreement |
| reached between the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President of the Senate, and the |
| Governor; and one of whom shall be the a financial leader, to be appointed upon an agreement |
| reached between the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President of the Senate, and the |
| Governor. |
| The purpose of said commission shall be to prepare a final report to include: |
| • A sustainable financial pathway and timeline for the City of Central Falls to |
| contribute their local share of foundation education aid; and |
| • A comprehensive plan for the transfer of operational and fiscal responsibility |
| from the State to the City of Central Falls, with an effective implementation date of July 1, 2026. |
| The President of the Senate shall designate the chair of the commission, and at the call of |
| the chair, shall meet not later than August 31, 2025. |
| The commission shall meet regularly and may solicit input from stakeholders, including |
| community members, educators, and financial experts, and the Department of Education and |
| Secondary Education shall provide administrative and technical support, as needed; and be it |
| further |
| RESOLVED, That the commission shall submit a final report of its findings and |
| recommendations to the Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the |
| President of the Senate no later than March 3, 2026, and said commission shall expire on July 1, |
| 2026, unless extended further by the General Assembly; and be it further |
| RESOLVED, That the required reports may be submitted electronically, and must be |
| posted on the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's website in a publicly |
| accessible place. |
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| LC002669/SUB A |
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