2023 -- S 0484
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LC001975
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S TATE OF RHODE IS LAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023
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A N A C T
RELATING TO EDUCATION -- COUNCIL ON ELEMENTARY AND SECON DARY
EDUCATION
Introduced By: Senators Lawson, DiMario, Euer, Mack, Britto, McKenney, Lauria,
Valverde, Cano, and Gallo
Date Introduced: March 07, 2023
Referred To: Senate Education
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 16-60-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-60 entitled "Council on 1
Elementary and Secondary Education [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island Board of 2
Education Act]" is hereby amended to read as follows: 3
16-60-2. Appointment of board members. 4
(a) The governor shall establish the council on elementary and secondary education by 5
appointing eight (8) members of the board of education established pursuant to chapter 97 of this 6
title to serve as members of the council until the expiration of their term and appointment of their 7
successor as a member of the board of education. The chair of the board of education shall serve 8
on the council in a voting, ex-officio capacity. Five (5) voting members of the council shall 9
constitute a quorum and the vote of the majority of those present and voting shall be required for 10
action. The governor shall appoint the chair of the council on an annual basis from among the eight 11
(8) council members. 12
(b) No person shall be eligible for appointment to the board after the effective date of this 13
act [March 24, 2006] unless he or she is a resident of this state. 14
(c) There is hereby established a student advisory council to the council on elementary and 15
secondary education, consisting of one elected high school student representative from each public 16
secondary school in the state of Rhode Island. 17
(1) Each public secondary school shall hold elections for its representative to the student 18
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advisory council no earlier than the first (1st) day of March and no later than the end of the second 1
(2nd) full week of April. Each school shall elect only one representative. Elected members shall be 2
notified of their election on or before the Friday of the third (3rd) week of April of the year of their 3
election. No person shall be eligible to be elected to the student advisory council unless at the time 4
of his or her election he or she is enrolled as a student in a secondary school between the grades of 5
nine (9) and eleven (11) within the state of Rhode Island. No person shall be allowed to vote if they 6
are not currently enrolled in a Rhode Island public secondary school between the grades of nine (9) 7
and eleven (11). If at any time during his or her term of office a member of the student advisory 8
council ceases to be so enrolled, his or her membership shall be terminated and his or her position 9
shall be deemed vacant. This vacancy shall be filled by the public secondary school within thirty 10
(30) school days of the opening of the vacancy. 11
(2) The student advisory council will serve from the first (1st) day of May of the year it is 12
elected until the last day of April of the following year. A student may serve no more than three (3) 13
terms. 14
(3) Said student advisory council shall meet from time to time quarterly, at a minimum, 15
and shall consider such matters as it deems appropriate. 16
(4) Prior to the first (1st) day of June of each annual session the student advisory council 17
shall adopt a set of bylaws. 18
(5) Members of the council shall not be compensated for service in attending meetings 19
except that they shall be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred in travelling to and from 20
meetings. 21
(6) The members of said student advisory council shall, by majority vote prior to the first 22
(1st) day of June in each year, elect from their members a chairperson who shall serve for a term 23
of one year beginning on the first (1st) day of June. Said chairperson shall serve as an ex officio 24
and nonvoting voting member of the council for a term of one year, unless the student advisory 25
council removes said chairperson from his or her position in a manner described within the bylaws 26
of that council. 27
(7) If a student is under the age of eighteen (18) years, they shall be exempt from any senate 28
advise and consent requirements. 29
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. 30
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO EDUCATION -- COUNCIL ON ELEMENTAR Y AND SECONDARY
EDUCATION
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This act would require the student advisory council to meet at least quarterly, and provide 1
the chairperson with equal voting powers as adult members on the council. If a student is under 2
eighteen (18) years of age, they shall be exempt from the senate advise and consent process. 3
This act would take effect upon passage. 4
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