Chapter 375
2022 -- S 3043
Enacted 06/29/2022

A N   A C T
RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- 2021 ACT ON CLIMATE

Introduced By: Senators Euer, and Mack

Date Introduced: June 19, 2022

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
     SECTION 1. Section 42-6.2-4 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-6.2 entitled "2021 Act
on Climate" is hereby amended to read as follows:
     42-6.2-4. Advisory board established -- Members.
     (a) The Rhode Island executive climate change coordinating council advisory board is
hereby established. The advisory board shall have thirteen (13) fourteen (14) members. Five (5)
Six (6) members shall be appointed by the governor, four (4) of whom shall be representatives of
city or town government, at least one of whom shall be from a city with a population of over fifty
thousand (50,000); and one of whom shall be of a town with a population of less than fifty thousand
(50,000), and one of whom shall be from an organization representing or serving low-income
and/or minority communities, and one member of the public with expertise in, and representing the
interests of, environmental justice.
     Four (4) members shall be appointed by the president of the senate, who shall give due
consideration to appointing persons with expertise in economic policy and/or workforce
development; protection of natural and cultural resources management; energy planning and
development; and engineering and design. Four (4) members shall be appointed by the speaker of
the house, who shall give due consideration to appointing persons with expertise in education;
public health and safety; housing; or from organizations representing or serving youth or the
elderly.
     (b) The members of the advisory board shall be appointed for terms of three (3) years;
provided, however, that, with regard to the initial appointments, four (4) members shall be
appointed for terms of one year; four (4) five (5) members shall be appointed for a term of two (2)
years; and five (5) members shall be appointed for a term of three (3) years. Members may be
reappointed, and their appointments shall continue until their successors are appointed. The term
of a member representing a city or town shall end when the member no longer holds an elected or
appointed position in the city or town he or she was representing. A vacancy other than by
expiration shall be filled in the manner of the original appointment, but only for the unexpired
portion of the term.
     (c) The members of the advisory board shall receive no compensation.
     (d) The governor shall appoint a chairperson; a vice-chairperson and secretary shall be
elected annually by the advisory board members. All officers of the advisory board shall serve until
their successors have been duly appointed or elected.
     (e) The advisory board shall meet at least quarterly or at the call of the chairperson of the
council. The chairperson of the council, or his or her designee, shall be present for all advisory
board meetings.
     (f) The advisory board shall have the following purposes and duties:
     (1) Advise the council on all matters pertaining to the duties and powers of the council,
including evaluating and making recommendations regarding plans, programs, and strategies
relating to climate change mitigation and adaptation;
     (2) Assist the council in improving public access to, and understanding of, the best
available scientific, technical, and other information about climate change, mitigation, adaptation,
etc., so as to build public support for, and participation in, initiatives to make communities more
resilient;
     (3) Serve as a conduit for communicating information from the council to communities and
constituencies, as well as vice versa, for input from the community level to the council;
     (4) Assist the council in meeting its own transparency and accountability obligations;
     (5) Report to the council at each regular council meeting; and
     (6) Prepare an annual report, to be included in the annual report of the council, that
specifically addresses the state of public awareness and engagement; the effectiveness of
mitigation, adaptation and public information programs from the community perspective; the
ability of the council to attain its goals and objectives, including effective interagency coordination
and public-private partnerships; and actions that would further the purposes of the council and this
legislation.
     (g) For purposes of this section, "environmental justice" means the fair treatment and
meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, English proficiency,
or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental
laws, regulations, and policies.
     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
========
LC006176
========