2019 -- H 6063

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LC002236

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE STUDY COMMISSION TO STUDY AND

PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE METHOD AND NECESSARY PROCEDURES

FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF RHODE ISLAND'S ACTION PLAN TO STAND UP TO

CLIMATE CHANGE

     Introduced By: Representatives Cortvriend, Blazejewski, Williams, Almeida, and Diaz

     Date Introduced: May 03, 2019

     Referred To: House Environment and Natural Resources

     WHEREAS, Climate change is considered one the most serious threats to the future

health, well-being, and economic security of the people of Rhode Island; and

     WHEREAS, Rhode Island is already experiencing climate change and the impacts are

placing communities, coastlines, forests, and aging, vulnerable infrastructure at risk; and

     WHEREAS, It is essential to the safety and well-being of all Rhode Islanders that

agencies of this State are prepared to keep both the citizens and the State's 400 miles of coastline

safe from the progression and effects of climate change; and

     WHEREAS, The much-heralded Resilient Rhode Island Act was passed in 2014

establishing the Executive Climate Change Coordinating Council (EC4) and emphasized the

concept of resilience, building on our collective strength to develop practical solutions that allow

Rhode Island to "weather the storm"; and

     WHEREAS, Governor Gina Raimondo enacted the Action Plan to Stand up to Climate

Change in September of 2017 by Executive Order and appointed a Chief Resilience officer to

drive climate resilience efforts across the state, both within government and in collaboration with

business, academic and nonprofit partners, with the mission to develop a statewide Climate

Resilience Action Strategy; and

     WHEREAS, In an effort to produce an inclusive plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

and adapt to the projected effects of climate change, 61 recommended Actions were constructed

by the 54 member working group that consisted of 13 Agencies, 8 State-wide organizations, and

three Research Institutions, during 10 roundtables which included more than 350 participants; and

     WHEREAS, Resilient Rhody is about actions we can take to protect our infrastructure

and our natural resources, strengthen our economy, preserve the health of our environment, and

keep Rhode Islanders safe; and

     WHEREAS, Resilient Rhody is also about strengthening collaboration between state

agencies, municipalities, and community groups throughout Rhode Island. To overcome climate

challenges now and in the future, we must work together; and

     WHEREAS, Climate resilience, as defined by Resilient Rhody is "the capacity of

individuals, institutions, businesses, and natural systems within Rhode Island to survive, adapt,

and grow no matter what chronic stresses and weather events they experience"; and

     WHEREAS, To move these vital Actions forward will require "sustained energy and

resources from key strategy development stakeholders"; now, therefore be it

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

consisting of sixteen (16) members: five (5) of whom shall be members of the House of

Representatives, three (3) of whom shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House, and two (2)

of whom shall be appointed by the Minority Leader; one of whom shall be the General Treasurer,

or designee; one of whom shall be the President of the Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns,

or designee; one of whom shall be the Chair of Board of Directors of the Rhode Island

Infrastructure Bank, or designee; one of whom shall be the Director of RI Department of

Environmental Management, or designee; one of whom shall be the Director of the Department

of Health, or designee; one of whom shall be the Director of RIDOT, or designee; two (2) of

whom shall be members of the Environmental Council of Rhode Island, to be appointed by the

President of the Council; one of whom shall be an expert from the property insurance industry, to

be appointed by the Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be a professor or designated student

from the Metcalf Institute of Marine and Environmental Reporting at the University of Rhode

Island, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; and one of whom shall be the Chair of

Providence Racial and Environmental Justice Committee, or designee.

     In lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to a permanent advisory

commission, a legislative study commission, or any commission created by a General Assembly

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

of a legislator, provided that the majority leader or the minority leader of the political party which

is entitled to the appointment consent to the member of the general public.

     The purpose of said commission shall be to study and make recommendations on the

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methods and procedures for the implementation of Rhode Island's Action Plan to Stand Up to

Climate Change including identification of sources and methods of funding and financing,

methods to track and evaluate the implementation progress and performance, identification of

actions and investments ready for implementation in the near-term, and determining how to best

equitably reduce the burden of climate change impacts with particular attention to communities

across the state who have been disproportionately burdened by multiple sources of pollution and

social vulnerabilities (environmental justice communities).

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

the call of the Speaker of the House and organize and shall select, from among the legislators, a

chairperson.

     Vacancies in said commission shall be filled in like manner as the original appointment.

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

     All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such advice and information,

documentary and otherwise, to said commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or

desirable by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this resolution.

     The Speaker of the House is hereby authorized and directed to provide suitable quarters

for said commission; and be it further

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

Speaker of the House no later than April 15, 2020, and said commission shall expire on May 15,

2020.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE STUDY COMMISSION TO STUDY AND

PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE METHOD AND NECESSARY PROCEDURES

FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF RHODE ISLAND'S ACTION PLAN TO STAND UP TO

CLIMATE CHANGE

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     This resolution would create a sixteen (16) member special legislative commission whose

purpose it would be to make a comprehensive study of the methods and procedures for the

implementation of Rhode Island's Action Plan to Stand Up to Climate Change, and who would

report back to the House no later than April 15, 2020, and whose life would expire on May 15,

2020.

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