2019 -- H 5585

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LC001794

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO WATERS AND NAVIGATION -- COASTAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT

COUNCIL

     Introduced By: Representatives McEntee, Craven, and Ruggiero

     Date Introduced: February 27, 2019

     Referred To: House Finance

     (Office of Energy Resources)

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 46-23-13 of the General Laws in Chapter 46-23 entitled "Coastal

Resources Management Council" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     46-23-13. Application and hearing fees.

     The council shall be authorized to establish reasonable fees for applications and hearings.

All fees collected by the council, including fees collected for leases, shall be deposited as general

revenues. The state controller is hereby authorized and directed to draw his or her orders upon the

general treasurer for payment of such sum or sums as may be necessary from time to time and

upon receipt by him or her of duly authenticated vouchers presented by the commissioner of

coastal resources management.

     Effective June 30, 2019, the council in consultation with the department of environmental

management and office of energy resources shall promulgate rules and regulations and develop

an offshore wind application and associated fee for any offshore wind projects that require access

to state waters for developing and operating offshore wind systems. The offshore wind fee

adopted by the council shall be distributed with council receiving forty-five percent (45%) and

the office of energy resources receiving ten percent (10%). The funds shall be used by respective

state agencies for administrative and programmatic efforts relating to fisheries, seafood and

agriculture, climate change and renewable energy efforts. The funds collected shall be exempt

from the indirect cost recovery provisions of § 35-4-27.

     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 WATERS AND NAVIGATION -- COASTAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT

COUNCIL

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     This act would provide funding to the Rhode Island department of environmental

management, Rhode Island office of energy resources and the Rhode Island coastal resource

management council from any offshore land lease fees associated with offshore wind systems that

access state waters.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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