A N A C T
RELATING TO AQUACULTURE
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Chapter 20-10 of the General Laws entitled "Aquaculture" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following sections:
20-10-1.1. Creation of the Biosecurity Board. -- There shall be a Biosecurity Board within the Coastal Resources Management Council, (hereinafter referred to as "CRMC"), which shall meet, at minimum, on a quarterly basis and shall be composed of seven (7) members to be designated by the executive director of the CRMC, or his or her designee, with council approval. The council shall select a chair from among the board members, one (1) of whom shall be the executive director of the CRMC or his or her designee, one (1) of whom shall be the state veterinarian or an individual certified in veterinary medicine, with a specialty in aquatic diseases, or by the American Fisheries Society, one (1) of whom shall be a certified medical doctor or a person with a Ph.D. in public health, one (1) of whom shall be a representative of the division of fish and wildlife, one (1) of whom shall be a representative of the marine fisheries council, one (1) of whom shall be a representative from the aquaculture industry and one (1) of whom shall be a faculty member of the University of Rhode Island, Department of Fisheries, Animals and Veterinary Science.
20-10-1.2. Biosecurity Board - Powers and duties. - (a) It shall be the duty of the Biosecurity Board to assist and advise the council in carrying out the provisions of this chapter. In performing this duty, the Biosecurity Board shall cooperate with appropriate state and federal agencies, including but not limited to the Department of Health, and shall recommend inspections as necessary to ensure compliance with public health standards. The Biosecurity Board shall from time to time review federal agency regulations pertaining to aquaculture disease and the importation of non-indigenous and genetically altered species and shall otherwise maintain a current understanding of aquatic diseases and management practices necessary to preserving the aquaculture industry and wild stock. The members of the Biosecurity Board shall serve without salary.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.