2022 -- S 2752

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LC004894

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- RHODE ISLAND CLIMATE

CORPS

     

     Introduced By: Senators Mendes, and Calkin

     Date Introduced: March 24, 2022

     Referred To: Senate Environment & Agriculture

     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 162

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RHODE ISLAND CLIMATE CORPS

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     42-162-1. Purpose.

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     The purpose of this act is to create the Rhode Island climate corps to implement a work

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program that would provide employment doing climate resilience and adaptation work.

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     42-162-2. Rhode Island climate corps created.

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     (a) There is hereby created an organization, the name of which is the Rhode Island climate

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corps, which is to be developed and administered by ServeRI.

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     (b) The purposes of the Rhode Island climate corps are to:

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     (1) Increase the opportunities for Rhode Islanders to devote up to a year of service to Rhode

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Island communities; mobilize the service sector as an innovative solution to clear and pressing

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environmental problems that negatively impact Rhode Island communities; and

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     (2) Provide rural and underserved communities in Rhode Island with volunteer resources

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to help address critical health, human, public safety, educational, and environmental needs; and

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     (3) Strengthen civic engagement of participants and in communities through volunteer

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service.

 

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     42-162-3. Definitions.

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     Definitions. As used in this chapter:

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     (1) "Corps member" means an individual who is at least eighteen (18) years of age and

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who has committed to not more than twelve (12) months of full-time, part-time, or flex-time service

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in the Rhode Island climate corps.

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     (2) "Program host" means a state entity, municipality, or nonprofit organization located or

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with a physical presence in Rhode Island that has committed to hosting corps members through the

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Rhode Island climate corps.

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     (3) "ServeRI" means the Rhode Island commission for national and community service, as

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required under section 201 of the National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993 and

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authorized by the Rhode Island general assembly, pursuant to section 1 of chapter 395 of the 2017

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public laws, entitled, "The Rhode Island Commission for National Community Service."

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     42-162-4. Program host eligibility and duties.

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     (a) The following conditions shall apply to the Rhode Island climate corps:

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     (1) ServeRI may provide funding to eligible program hosts that have experience

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administering national service grants and engaging Rhode Islanders in formal service programs in

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order to enable those hosts to support corps members and undertake eligible projects.

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     (2) Program hosts that receive funding from ServeRI through the Rhode Island climate

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corps shall use the funding received to meet costs incurred by hosting and supporting corps

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members in their service who are participating in eligible projects.

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     (3) Corps members shall be the responsibility of their program hosts and shall not be

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employees, or considered to be employees, of the State of Rhode Island for any purpose throughout

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the duration of their service.

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     (4) ServeRI and program hosts shall, to the extent practicable, ensure that corps members

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are placed in projects that match their interests, geographic constraints, skills, and abilities.

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     (5) Program hosts shall seek to enroll as corps members individuals who reflect the

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diversity of gender, racial, ethnic, sexual, social, and disability status of Rhode Islanders.

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     (6) Project eligibility shall be determined by ServeRI and may include weatherization,

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environmental restoration, and other climate-related projects. Innovative strategies and

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partnerships are encouraged.

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     (b) In administering the Rhode Island climate corps, ServeRI shall coordinate with

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appropriate organizations in the served communities, shall explore service-based solutions that

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build community capacity to combat climate change, and may engage with existing national service

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programs.

 

LC004894 - Page 2 of 4

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     42-162-5. Report.

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     On or before April 1 annually, ServeRI shall report to the general assembly on the Rhode

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Island climate corps.

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     42-162-6. Appropriation.

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     The sum of five million dollars ($5,000,000) is appropriated from the general fund to

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ServeRI in fiscal year 2023 for the purpose of administering the Rhode Island climate corps.

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     42-162-7. Climate corps membership goals.

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     Within one hundred eighty (180) days following the passage of this act, ServeRI shall seek

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to establish in 2024 the first class of corps members.

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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 -- RHODE ISLAND CLIMATE

CORPS

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     This act would create the Rhode Island climate corps to implement a work program that

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would provide employment doing climate resilience and adaptation work. The climate corps would

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be developed and administered by ServeRI.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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