2023 -- H 6436
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LC003054
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S TATE OF RHODE IS LAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023
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H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N
CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY AND PROV IDE
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CHANGES TO THE MERIT SYSTEM FOR PERSONNEL
ADMINISTRATION AND P ERSONNEL MANAGEMENT IN THE DEPARTMENT OF
HUMAN SERVICES AND THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAM ILIES
Introduced By: Representative Patricia A. Serpa
Date Introduced: May 24, 2023
Referred To: House Health & Human Services
WHEREAS, The State of Rhode Island has too many unfilled fulltime equivalent 1
positions in essential positions serving the State’s most vulnerable residents in the Department of 2
Human Services and the Department of Children, Youth and Families; and 3
WHEREAS, The lack of staffing has led to extended wait times for service in walk-in 4
offices and at the call centers. Residents are having to wait far too long to resolve any issues with 5
these departments; and 6
WHEREAS, The unfilled positions also impact the morale of the current staff, increasing 7
work load and stress which then increases turnover in these departments, creating more 8
vacancies; now, therefore be it 9
RESOLVED, That a special legislative commission be and the same is hereby created 10
consisting of eleven (11) members: three (3) of whom shall be members of the Rhode Island 11
House of Representatives, not more than two (2) from the same political party, to be appointed by 12
the Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be the Director of the Rhode Island Department of 13
Administration, or designee; one of whom shall be the Director of the Rhode Island Department 14
of Human Services, or designee; one of whom shall be the Secretary of the Executive Office of 15
Health and Human Services, or designee; one of whom shall be the Director of the Department of 16
Children, Youth and Families, or designee; one of whom shall be the President of Local 580, 17
SEIU, AFL-CIO, or designee; one of whom shall be the President of the Rhode Island Council 18
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94, or designee; and two (2) of whom shall be members of the public, to be appointed by the 1
Speaker of the House. 2
In lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to a legislative study 3
commission, or any commission created by a General Assembly resolution, the appointing 4
authority may appoint a member of the general public to serve in lieu of a legislator; provided 5
that, the Majority Leader or the Minority Leader of the political party which is entitled to the 6
appointment, consents to the member of the general public. 7
The purpose of said commission shall be to make a comprehensive study and provide 8
recommendations for changes to the merit system of personnel administration and personnel 9
management for the Department of Human Services and Department of Children, Youth and 10
Families. 11
Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall meet at 12
the call of the Speaker of the House and organize and shall select a chairperson. 13
Vacancies in said commission shall be filled in like manner as the original appointment. 14
The membership of said commission shall receive no compensation for their services. 15
All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such advice and information, 16
documentary and otherwise, to said commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or 17
desirable by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this resolution. 18
The Speaker of the House is hereby authorized and directed to provide suitable quarters 19
for said commission; and be it further 20
RESOLVED, That the commission shall report its findings and recommendations to the 21
House of Representatives no later than April 1, 2024, and said commission shall expire on May 22
31, 2024. 23
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N
CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY AND PROVIDE
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CHANGES TO THE MERIT SYSTEM FOR PERSONNEL
ADMINISTRATION AND P ERSONNEL MANAGEMENT IN THE DEPARTMENT OF
HUMAN SERVICES AND THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAM ILIES
***
This resolution would create an eleven (11) member special legislative commission to 1
study and provide recommendations for changes to the merit system of personnel administration 2
and personnel management for the Department of Human Services and Department of Children, 3
Youth and Families, and who would report back to the House no later than April 1, 2024, and 4
whose life would expire on May 31, 2024. 5
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LC003054
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