| R 365 |
| 2024 -- S 3149 Enacted 06/11/2024 |
| S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N |
| RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THE DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION (DOA) TO UNDERTAKE A REVIEW AND ANALYSIS OF THE COASTAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT COUNCIL |
Introduced By: Senators Sosnowski, DiMario, Euer, and Gu |
| Date Introduced: June 10, 2024 |
| WHEREAS, Rhode Island is the "Ocean State" with 400 miles of shoreline along the |
| Narragansett Bay and the Atlantic Ocean; and |
| WHEREAS, Rhode Island's beautiful shorelines are enjoyed by residents and tourists |
| alike; and |
| WHEREAS, Rhode Island relies upon these shorelines and coastal waters to support the |
| State's economy from its vibrant tourism sector to the seafood industry; and |
| WHEREAS, In order to preserve and protect the State's coastal waters, the Rhode Island |
| Coastal Resources Management Council and Department of Environmental Management work |
| prudently to ensure that the State's shorelines are maintained and properly developed; and |
| WHEREAS, The structure of these entities must be reviewed to determine if their |
| structures meet the current needs and those of the future; now, therefore be it |
| RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby respectfully requests |
| that the Department of Administration (DOA) undertakes a review and analysis of the Coastal |
| Resources Management Council in order to determine: |
| • The cost-benefit analysis if the Coastal Resources Management Council became a |
| department of the State; |
| • The cost-benefit analysis if the Coastal Resources Management Council merged with |
| the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management; |
| • An analysis of the current operating structure of the Coastal Resources Management |
| Council and Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management to determine how the |
| Coastal Resources Management Council would operate as a department of the State and whether |
| overlaps in authority would be present between the two departments; |
| • An analysis of the organization structure, staffing, and resources required for the |
| Coastal Resources Management Council to operate as a standalone department of the State; |
| • An analysis of the organization structure, staffing, and resources required if the Coastal |
| Resources Management Council is merged with the Rhode Island Department of Environmental |
| Management; and |
| • What federal approvals are required from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric |
| Administration (NOAA) for the Coastal Resources Management Council to become a department |
| of the State or merge with the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management; and be it |
| further |
| RESOLVED, That this Senate hereby requests DOA to develop recommendations as to |
| how the State should proceed with the Coastal Resources Management Council; and be it further |
| RESOLVED, That this Senate hereby further requests the DOA to report its findings and |
| recommendations to the Senate on or before February 1, 2025; and be it further |
| RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to |
| transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the Director of the Department of |
| Administration. |
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| LC006228 |
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