Bill > H6255

This joint resolution creates a special seven-member legislative study commission to develop a comprehensive plan for returning the Central Falls school district to local governance. The commission will include representatives from the Senate, House of Representatives, Governor's office, Department of Education, City of Central Falls, Rhode Island Federation of Teachers, and a financial expert. The commission's primary objectives are to prepare a final report that outlines a sustainable financial pathway for the city to contribute its local education funding and creates a detailed plan to transfer operational and fiscal responsibility from the state back to the city, with an implementation date of July 1, 2026. The commission must meet by August 31, 2025, solicit input from various stakeholders, and submit a final report to the Governor and legislative leaders by March 3, 2026. The commission will expire on July 1, 2026, unless the General Assembly chooses to extend it, and all reports must be electronically submitted and publicly accessible on the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's website.