2016 -- H 8304

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LC006150

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2016

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J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL JOINT COMMISSION TO STUDY THE PRESENCE AND

TREATMENT OF LEAD IN DRINKING WATER IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Naughton, Ackerman, Fogarty, Handy, and Regunberg

     Date Introduced: June 08, 2016

     Referred To: House Health, Education & Welfare

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     WHEREAS, The presence of lead in drinking water has long been determined to have

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numerous significant negative health impacts, especially in children; and

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     WHEREAS, The Environmental Protection Agency has set the maximum contaminant

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level goal for lead in drinking water at zero because lead is a toxic metal that can be harmful to

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human health even at low exposure levels; and

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     WHEREAS, It is the policy of the state to assure the public that the state is taking all

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actions to ensure that the risks from lead in the drinking water are addressed, and furthermore,

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that compliance with the standards set for safe drinking water in the Lead and Copper Rule

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(LCR), 40 CFR Part 141 Subpart I, are met and/or exceeded; and

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     WHEREAS, It is the policy of the state to cooperate with the Environmental Protection

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Agency (EPA) in its oversight responsibilities of state programs and address any deficiencies

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Rhode Island may have in our current implementation of the Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) 40

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CFR Part 141 Subpart I; and

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     WHEREAS, It is the policy of the state to provide public health communication and

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outreach to residents on the steps taken to reduce exposures to lead and if levels in excess of those

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accepted are detected, information relating to what corrective actions are undertaken to correct

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the water quality; now therefore, be it

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     RESOLVED, That a special joint commission be and the same is hereby created and shall

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consist of seven (7) members: one of whom shall be a member of the House, to be appointed by

 

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the Speaker of the House, who shall serve as co-chair; one of whom shall be a member of the

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Senate, to be appointed by the Senate President, who shall serve as co-chair; one of whom shall

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be the President of the American Academy of Pediatrics Rhode Island Chapter, or designee; one

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of whom shall be the Executive Director of Rhode Island Kids Count, or designee; one of whom

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shall be the President of the Rhode Island Water Works Association, or designee; one of whom

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shall be the Executive Director of the National Utility Contractors Association of Rhode Island,

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or designee; and the President of the Rhode Island School Superintendents’ Association, or

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designee.

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     In lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to this commission, the

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appointing authority may appoint a member of the general public to serve in lieu of a legislator,

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provided that the majority leader or minority leader of the political party which is entitled to the

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appointment consents to the appointment of the member of the general public and the public

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member is a resident of the State of Rhode Island.

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     The purpose of said commission shall be to make a comprehensive study of the presence

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of lead in the drinking water supplies in the State; the practices and procedures used by the State

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to ensure compliance with State and federal laws, rules and regulations regarding lead in drinking

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water; the condition of drinking water supply infrastructure and the efforts by drinking water

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suppliers to mitigate lead risk in their systems; the financing options available to drinking water

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suppliers and property owners to access low cost financing to repair/replace pipes and related

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infrastructure.

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     Forthwith upon passage of the resolution, the members of the commission shall meet at

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the call of the Speaker of the House and President of the Senate. The commission shall have the

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authority to organize and form subcommittees, when deemed appropriate by a majority of the

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members.

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     Vacancies in said commission shall be filled in the same manner as the original

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appointment.

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     The membership of said commission shall receive no compensation for their services.

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     All departments and agencies of the state, including the Departments of Health and

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Environmental Management, the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank, and the University of Rhode

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Island’s Water Resources Center, shall furnish such advice and information, documentary and

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otherwise, to said commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or desirable by the

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commission to facilitate the purposes of this resolution.

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     The Joint Committee on Legislative Services is hereby authorized and directed to provide

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suitable quarters for said commission; and be it further

 

LC006150 - Page 2 of 3

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     RESOLVED, That the commission shall report its findings and recommendations to the

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Governor and the General Assembly no later than April 27, 2017, and said commission shall

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expire on June 30, 2017.

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LC006150

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