In January of 2003, Thomas Izzo completed 14 years of service in the Rhode Island State Senate. He served as chairman of the Committee on Health, Education and Welfare, and served on both HEW and the Committee on Finance throughout his tenure. As chairman, and prior as vice chairman, of the Permanent Legislative Oversight Commission on the Department of Children, Youth and Families he sponsored significant child welfare reform legislation as well as legislation regarding adoption, termination of parental rights, juvenile justice and the creation of the Children’s Cabinet. He was the prime sponsor of successful legislation dealing with youth access to tobacco, Rite Care, childhood lead poisoning, affordable housing, contractor registration, and the creation of charter schools, and he co-chaired the 2000 Special Commission on Health Care Reform and the Rhode Island System of Care Task Force.
He served three terms as the Senate representative on the RI Board of Governors for Higher Education and chaired its committee on academic and student affairs. He has served as a board member of Adoption RI, Hope, Alzheimer Center, Institute for the Study and Practice of Nonviolence, Childhood Lead Action Project, and RI Kids Count. He serves on the board of directors of Healthcentric Advisors, the community chairman of the RI Global Waiver Implementation Task Force, and is a member of the Coastal Medical ACO Advisory Committee.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in education at Rhode Island College and a master’s degree from New York University. He retired after 32 years as an educator in the Cranston school system.
