My most successful legislative programs have been those that have spanned several years in time and have involved hundreds of participants from multiple stakeholder groups. Good policy formation demands time and patience. In both the Bay Trust and the Aquaculture Commissions, I brought together stakeholders and officials from around the state and from out of state to work on solutions to complex problems.
Our democratic political processes work best when problem-solving engages a broad array of relevant stakeholders. Working at the grass roots is not only the philosophical core of our government, it is also the only practical way to assure broad and enduring support for the workings of government. Building trust and forming consensus among all involved is essential to forming long-lasting and fair solutions benefitting all stakeholders.
The following links to special house commissions which I chair that reflect grass-roots Rhode Islanders making a difference in long-term policy formation decisions:
H 7140—RELATING TO EDUCATION - - UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND. This act would promote the capability of the University of Rhode Island in the areas of environmental and agricultural research and extension education by authorizing the appropriation of additional state funds to match annual federal funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, without reduction in the University’s general operating budget.
H 7157—CREATING A SPECIAL HOUSE COMMISSION TO PROMOTE AND DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE SYSTEM OF EDUCATION FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED CHILDREN. This resolution would extend the reporting date of the special house commission to promote and develop a comprehensive system of education for the visually impaired children from March 18, 2004 to March 18, 2005.
H 7162—RELATING TO PARKS AND RECREATIONAL AREAS -- GENERAL PROVISIONS. This act would provide a waiver of fees for disabled veterans at state owned recreational facilities and licenses issued by DEM.
H 7246—RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- THE RHODE ISLAND CARBON FUEL REDUCTION AND AIR POLLUTION CONTROL ACT. This act would create a new chapter in the general laws directing DEM to develop plans for fossil fuel and greenhouse gas reduction and would exempt from taxation certain alternative energy equipment.
H 7404—RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- LICENSING OF HEALTH CARE FACILITIES. This act would provide for a community living option to be provided for all persons who have a disability and are sixty-five (65) years of age or younger in order to allow thosei ndividuals the choice to live in a less restrictive community-based environment or their own home environment.
H 7518—RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES -- HEALTH CARE FOR WORKING PEOPLE FOR WORKING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. This act would authorize the department of human services to establish a Medicaid buy-in program pursuant to the Balanced Budget Act of 1997.
H 7577—RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- JOINT AND SEVERAL LIABILITY. This act would provide that the liability of a defendant for damages would be several only and not be joint where the defendant's act or omission constituted no more than 25% of the causes of damages sustained by the plaintiff.
H 8191—RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- MEDICAID EXPENDITURES -- ANNUAL REPORT. This act would require the department of human services to separately report managed care expenditure and enrollment for children with special health care needs and those in substitute care.
H 8192—RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- STROKE TASK FORCE. This act would direct the director of the department of health to establish and maintain a comprehensive statewide stroke task force.
H 8205—RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES -- FAMILY INDEPENDENCE ACT. This act would provide that fifty dollars ($50.00) of child support paid by a noncustodial be provided to the family of children receiving cash assistance from the family independence program.
H8206—RELATING TO AERONAUTICS - NOISE MONITORING. This act would require the Rhode Island Airport Corporation to procure and install a permanent airport noise monitoring system (NMS) to be fully integrated with the aircraft operator monitoring system (AOMS) to provide actual measurement of noise levels from air traffic in the community surrounding T.F. Green Airport.
H 8234—CREATING A SPECIAL HOUSE COMMISSION TO REVIEW CURRENT SCIENCE EDUCATION K-12 STANDARDS AND THOSE FOR "THE NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND" REQUIREMENT. This resolution would create a nine (9) member special house commission whose purpose it would be to review current science education and who would report back to the House of Representatives no later than March 17, 2005.
H 8300—CREATING A SPECIAL HOUSE COMMISSION TO PROMOTE, DEVELOP AND ARTICULATE A PUBLIC SCIENCE SCHOOL FOR GRADES 6-12 ALIGNED WITH HIGHER EDUCATION. This resolution would create a nine (9) member special legislative commission whose purpose it would be to review current science education and who would report back to the House of Representatives no later than March 17, 2005.
H 8359—RELATING TO WATERS AND NAVIGATION -- THE RHODE ISLAND BAYS AND WATERSHEDS COORDINATION TEAM. This act would establish the Rhode Island Bays and Watersheds Coordination Team to promote multi-state and multi-agency coordination in the management, restoration, protection and development of the state's bays and watersheds. The act would also provide for the establishment of several committees to assist the coordination team in the performance of its duties.
H 8360—RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING THE RHODE ISLAND CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO SPONSOR AND VIGOROUSLY SUPPORT THE ENACTMENT OF THE "INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS ACCESSIBILITY ACT" IN THE 108TH SESSION OF CONGRESS. RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations hereby respectfully requests the Rhode Island Congressional Delegation to sponsor, and most vigorously support, the enactment of the "Instructional Materials Accessibility Act," also known as the IMAA in this 108th session (2003-2004) of Congress.
H 8398—PROCLAIMING APRIL, 2004 TO BE "EARTH MONTH" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND. RESOLVED, That this House of Representative of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations hereby proclaims April, 2004 to be "Earth Month" in Rhode Island and calls upon its citizens to observe this month with programs, ceremonies and activities that celebrate this remarkable and vital endeavor to save our planet.
H 8408—MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $25,000 FOR THE COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAM. This resolution would authorize the appropriation of the sum of $25,000 for the Comprehensive Community Action Program.
H 8424—PROCLAIMING MAY 7, 2004 "URI COMMERCIAL FISHERIES DAY". RESOLVED, That this General Assembly of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, in celebration of over a century of cooperation between the University of Rhode Island and the state’s oldest industry, commercial fishing, hereby proclaims Friday, May 7, 2004 to be “URI Commercial Fisheries Day” in the state of Rhode Island.
H 8440—RELATING TO WATERS AND NAVIGATION -- THE RHODE ISLAND RIVERS COUNCIL. This act would refine the powers and duties relating to the Rhode Island Rivers Council.
H 8544—RELATING TO THE CITY OF WARWICK TO PLACE ON THE BALLOT A QUESTION AUTHORIZING $2,000,000 IN BONDS TO PURCHASE OPEN SPACE. This act would authorize the city of Warwick to place on the ballot a question authorizing $2,000,000 in bonds to purchase open space.
H 8596—PROCLAIMING MAY 15, 2004 THROUGH JUNE 15, 2004 AS "TOURETTE SYNDROME AWARENESS MONTH". RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations hereby proclaims May 15, 2004 through June 15, 2004 as "Tourette Syndrome Awareness Month".
H 8641—RELATING TO WATERS AND NAVIGATION. This act would create the Comprehensive Watershed and Marine Monitoring Act of 2004.
H 8642—RELATING TO WATERS AND NAVIGATION. This act would authorize the director of the department of environmental management to coordinate various governmental agencies and private organizations to insure that watershed management and preservation are optimized. It would also make the Rhode Island Rivers Council an arm of the Water Resources Board instead of the department of administration,division of planning.
H 8669—RELATING TO HEALTH INSURANCE -- EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES. This act would provide that individual or group hospital or medical expense insurance policies or contracts providing coverage for dependent children include coverage of early intervention services and would provide for a transition process for early intervention for developmentally disabled infants.
H 8692—CREATING A SPECIAL HOUSE COMMISSION TO STUDY THE STATUS OF THE STATE'S POLICY FORMULATION FOR SUSTAINABLE FISHERIES. This resolution would create a 20 member special House commission whose purpose it would be to study the status of the state's policy formulation for sustainable fisheries, and who would report back to the House of Representatives no later than March 11, 2005.
H 8703—CREATING A SPECIAL HOUSE COMMISSION TO DEVELOP AND PROMOTE A COMPREHENSIVE SYSTEM OF AQUACULTURE AND SEAFOOD COMMERCE. This resolution would create a sixteen (16) member special House commission, whose purpose it would be to develop, promote and stimulate a comprehensive system of aquaculture and seafood commerce, and who would report back to the House of Representatives no later than May 31, 2005.