2013 -- S 0712 SUBSTITUTE A

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2013

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A N A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT - LONG-TERM ECONOMIC

DEVELOPMENT VISION AND POLICY

     Introduced By: Senators Ruggerio, Paiva Weed, DiPalma, Pearson, and Walaska

     Date Introduced: March 13, 2013

     Referred To: Senate Commerce

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Title 42 of the General Laws entitled "STATE AFFAIRS AND

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GOVERNMENT" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

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     CHAPTER 64.17

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LONG-TERM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

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     42-64.17-1. Long-term Economic Development Vision and Policy. -- (a) The

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economic development corporation and the division of planning shall develop a written long-term

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economic development vision and policy for the state of Rhode Island and a strategic plan for

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implementing this policy. Such a plan shall include, but not be limited to:

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     (1) A unified economic development strategy for the state that integrates business growth

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with land use and transportation choices;

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     (2) An analysis of how the state's infrastructure can best support this unified economic

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development strategy;

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     (3) A focus and prioritization that the outcomes of the economic development strategy be

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equitable for all Rhode Islanders;

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     (4) Reliance on comprehensive economic data and analysis relating to Rhode Island's

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economic competitiveness, business climate, national and regional reputation, and present

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economic development resources;

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     (5) Suggestions for improving and expanding the skills, abilities, and resources of state

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agencies, municipalities, and community partners to speed implementation of the plan's

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recommendations; and

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     (6) The inclusion of detailed implementation plans, including stated goals, specific

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performance measures and indicators.

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     (b) On or before October 31, 2014, the economic development corporation and the

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division of planning shall submit the written long-term economic development vision and policy

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and implementation plan to the governor, the senate and the house of representatives.

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     (c) Beginning January 1, 2015, and during the first year of each new or re-elected

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gubernatorial administration thereafter, the governor shall convene an economic development

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planning council consisting of no fewer than seventeen (17) members as follows:

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     (1)(i) The director of the economic development corporation who shall serve as chair,

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until such time that the secretary of commerce is appointed;

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     (ii) Upon his or her appointment, the secretary of commerce shall replace the director of

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the economic development corporation as a member, and shall serve as chair;

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     (2) The director of the department of administration;

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     (3) The director of the department of revenue;

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     (4) The director of the department of labor and training;

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     (5) The director of the department of transportation;

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     (6) The director of the department of business regulation;

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     (7) The commissioner of elementary and secondary education;

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     (8) The commissioner of higher education;

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     (9) One member who shall be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives;

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     (10) One member who shall be appointed by the president of the senate; and

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     (11) Seven (7) members who shall be appointed by the governor as follows: one of whom

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shall be a representative from the league of cities and towns; one of whom shall be a

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representative from a chamber of commerce; one of whom shall be from a nonprofit organization

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representing a major industry sector in Rhode Island; one of whom shall represent a business with

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more than one hundred (100) employees located in Rhode Island; one of whom shall represent a

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business with fewer than one hundred (100) employees located in Rhode Island; one of whom

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shall be from a venture capital firm with a principal place of business in Rhode Island; and one of

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whom shall represent a private sector labor union. Any department director appointed as a

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member of the council may appoint a designee from his or her respective agency to represent

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him/her on the council. Members of the council shall serve for a term of one year or until an

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economic development policy has been approved by the governor under this section.

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     (d) The economic development planning council and, upon his or her appointment, the

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secretary of commerce, shall develop a written long-term economic development vision and

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policy for the state and a strategic plan for implementing the policy. In developing the policy, the

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council shall review and consider the published economic development policy and

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implementation plan in effect at the commencement of the governor's term of office. The policy

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shall set long term goals and measurable benchmarks which are not limited to a particular

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gubernatorial administration and shall give consideration to any impacts the plan may have on

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businesses employing ten (10) or fewer people. The strategic plan shall include any major

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economic development initiatives and programs in effect at the time of the plan’s creation. In

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developing the policy the council may hold public hearings throughout the state.

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     (e) Once the policy and plan have been adopted by the council and, upon his or her

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appointment, the secretary of commerce, shall submit the policy and plan to the senate and house

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of representatives. The final approval of the policy and plan by the governor shall not be granted

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until the house and senate have conducted a public hearing on the policy and plan. The approved

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policy and plan shall be published in writing and on the official website of the state no later than

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December 31 of that year.

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     (f) The economic development corporation shall be responsible for providing staff to

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support the work of the council, and the division of planning shall also provide staff support. All

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departments represented on the council shall cooperate with the economic development

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corporation and the division of planning to facilitate the purposes of this chapter.

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     (g) Subject to funding, the council shall be able to hire consultants and related assistance

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to provide the type of analysis necessary to inform and perform their work.

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     (h) All departments, offices, boards and agencies of the state shall cooperate with the

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economic development planning council and furnish such administrative and staff support,

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advice, information, documentary and otherwise, data and data analysis, and other support as may

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be necessary or desirable.

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     (i) In carrying out the responsibility under this order, the council may:

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     (1) Accept grant funds and in-kind contributions from governmental and private entities;

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     (2) Hold public hearings;

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     (3) Invite experts and other witnesses to submit testimony; and

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     (4) Contract with experts and consultants as necessary to inform deliberations and

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recommendations.

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     (j) In addition to any other applicable law, rules or regulations, the economic

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development planning council shall be subject to the provisions of the Open Meetings Act, title

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42, chapter 46 of the Rhode Island general laws, and the Public Records Act, title 38, chapter 2 of

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the Rhode Island general laws.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT - LONG-TERM ECONOMIC

DEVELOPMENT VISION AND POLICY

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     This act would establish an economic development planning council to develop a written

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long-term economic development vision and policy and strategic implementation plan. This act

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would also direct the economic development corporation and the division of planning to develop

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the initial written long-term economic development vision and policy and strategic

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implementation plan for submission to the governor, senate and house of representatives on or

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before October 31, 2014.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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