§ 42-51-11. Mary Brennan fellowship fund. (a) There is established the Mary Brennan fellowship fund ("the fellowship fund"), which shall be utilized to create a fellowship program for students and young adults with disabilities.

(b) These fellowships shall provide a semester-long, part-time placement with the commission in Rhode Island, working on disability policy and research. Each fellow will be assigned to a specific placement, providing assistance to the commission in disability policy. Mentor experiences will introduce the fellows to disability policy issues and actions at the local, state and federal levels. The fellowships will offer students an opportunity to:

(1) Gain perspective on the role and responsibility of the commission;

(2) Knowledge of national/state disability programs;

(3) Policy issues and research;

(4) Meet with decision makers, experts and critics in disability and related policy fields; and

(5) Develop networks with local, regional, and national based experts, and researchers who can assist in career development and future endeavors.

(c) The commission will provide each fellow with a stipend of at least one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500) and reimbursement for authorized travel.

(d) This fellowship program is designed for individuals with demonstrated interest in policy and research affecting people with disabilities. Applicants must have:

(1) [Deleted by P.L. 2018, ch. 146, § 1 and P.L. 2018, ch. 238, § 1].

(2) [Deleted by P.L. 2018, ch. 146, § 1 and P.L. 2018, ch. 238, § 1].

(3) Leadership ability;

(4) The endorsement of a current or former supervisor or teacher;

(5) [Deleted by P.L. 2018, ch. 146, § 1 and P.L. 2018, ch. 238, § 1].

(6) The ability to participate in the semester-long program for at least two hundred and forty (240) hours during the spring and fall semesters or in the summer.

(e) The commission shall give preference in its selection of fellows to Rhode Island residents who are:

(1) Students and young adults with disabilities, and then to;

(2) College students enrolled in a course of study in education or human services for persons with disabilities.

(f) The general assembly shall appropriate annually the sums it deems necessary to implement the purposes of this section.

(g) The commission is authorized and empowered to receive donations and grants from sources including, but not limited to, the federal government, governmental and private foundations, and corporate and individual donors; these donations and grants to be deposited in the fellowship fund. The commission may create additional fellowships from available funds.

History of Section. (P.L. 1997, ch. 111, § 1; P.L. 1999, ch. 331, § 1; P.L. 1999, ch. 455, § 1; P.L. 2018, ch. 146, § 1; P.L. 2018, ch. 238, § 1.)