2024 -- H 7361

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LC004575

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2024

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL COMMISSION TO MAKE A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY AND

PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR REMEDIES TO THE EROSION OF RHODE

ISLAND BEACHES

     Introduced By: Representatives Azzinaro, Fogarty, Hull, Tanzi, Spears, Cotter,
Cortvriend, Carson, McEntee, and Kennedy

     Date Introduced: January 31, 2024

     Referred To: House Environment and Natural Resources

     WHEREAS, Rhode Island is officially nicknamed the "Ocean State" and has a tidal

shoreline on Narragansett Bay and the Atlantic Ocean of more than 400 miles and more than 30

islands within the bay; and

     WHEREAS, Rhode Island has eight state beaches: Charlestown Breachway, East Beach

in Charlestown, East Matunuck in South Kingstown, Misquamicut in Westerly, Roger Wheeler,

Scarborough North and South, and Salty Brine in Narragansett; and

     WHEREAS, In 2022, visitor spending in Rhode Island totaled $5.3 billion and sustained

more than 80,000 jobs, a large portion of which is derived from and influenced by the State's

beaches and coastline; and

     WHEREAS, The harsh reality is that Rhode Island's beaches are eroding and are in

urgent need of protection and restoration; and

     WHEREAS, Beach restoration involves various methods including;

     • The placement of sand on an eroded beach for the purposes of restoring it as a

recreational beach and providing storm protection for upland properties and the preservation of

erosion hot spots; and

     • Dune stabilization techniques including: importing dredged sand from offshore to build

up the dune, planting grasses or other plants to secure the sand, and installing fencing along the

dune on both the seaward and landward sides of the dune; and

     WHEREAS, Rhode Islanders care deeply about the quality of life and income derived

from our beautiful coastline; now, therefore be it

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

consisting of nine (9) members; four (4) of whom shall be members of the House, not more than

three (3) from the same political party, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; one of whom

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

whom shall be the executive director of the Costal Resources Management Council, or designee;

one of whom shall be the Dean of Biological Oceanography at the University of Rhode Island, or

designee; one of whom shall be the Commander of the New England Army Corps of Engineers,

or designee; and one of whom shall be the Executive Director of the Misquamicut Business

Association, or designee.

     In lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to 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, consents to the member of the general public.

     The purpose of said commission shall be to make a comprehensive study and cost

analysis in order to provide recommendations for remedies to the erosion of Rhode Island

beaches.

     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 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

House of Representatives no later than January 5, 2025, and said commission shall expire on

March 5, 2025.

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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 COMMISSION TO MAKE A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY AND

PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR REMEDIES TO THE EROSION OF RHODE

ISLAND BEACHES

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     This resolution would create a nine (9) member special legislative study commission

whose purpose it would be to study and provide recommendations for remedies to the erosion of

Rhode Island beaches, and who would report back to the House no later than January 5, 2025, and

whose life would expire on March 5, 2025.

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