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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2024

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO WATERS AND NAVIGATION -- ACT ON COASTS - COASTAL

RESILIENCY

     

     Introduced By: Senators Gu, Valverde, DiMario, Kallman, Sosnowski, Euer, Britto,
Miller, LaMountain, and Tikoian

     Date Introduced: February 12, 2024

     Referred To: Senate Environment & Agriculture

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Title 46 of the General Laws entitled "WATERS AND NAVIGATION" is

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hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

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CHAPTER 23.4

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ACT ON COASTS -- COASTAL RESILIENCY

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     46-23.4-1. Short title.

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     This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Act on Coasts -- Coastal Resiliency".

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     46-23.4-2. Rhode Island chief resilience officer (CRO).

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     The chief resilience officer (CRO) shall:

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     (1) Conduct a comprehensive assessment of the climate risks related to sea level rise for

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coastal and riverine communities. The CRO will conduct an assessment of risk to Providence, Kent,

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Washington, Bristol and Newport counties for the purposes of the development of a statewide

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coastal resilience strategy, building upon and supporting the work of the Rhode Island shoreline

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change special area management plan, hazard mitigation plan and the municipal resilience planning

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program;

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     (2) Develop a coastal resilience plan and draft state policies on resilience and implement

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such policies in conjunction with the Rhode Island executive climate change coordinating council

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(the “RIEC4”) to improve coordination among state agencies and local jurisdictions to support

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community and economic recovery efforts and to address risk and vulnerability reduction from sea

 

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rise, riverine flooding and urban heat. The CRO shall provide the statewide coastal resilience plan

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to the governor, the RIEC4 and the general assembly no later than October 1, 2025, to be included

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in the state climate plan as outlined in chapter 6.2 of title 42 ("2021 act on climate") which statewide

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plan is due December 31, 2026;

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     (3) Coordinate resilience efforts across state agencies, municipalities, businesses, and other

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organizations and to advise the RIEC4, established pursuant to § 42-6.2-1, on the status and

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effectiveness of those efforts;

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     (4) Draft state policies on resilience and implement such policies under the direction of the

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RIEC4;

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     (5) Serve as the primary voice and advocate for state actions on resilience;

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     (6) Build upon the planning assistance provided to municipalities by municipal resilience

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program (“MRP”) workshops, in coordination with partner agencies;

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     (7) Work closely with Rhode Island infrastructure bank (“RIIB”) on the MRP action grants

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and the planning and financing of other resilience projects;

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     (8) Work with RIIB and coastal resource management council on the implementation of

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the ocean state climate adaptation and resilience fund (“OSCAR”) grant program;

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     (9) Plan and implement projects to protect and restore the habitat and recreational resources

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owned or under the stewardship of department of environmental management;

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     (10) Aggressively track and apply for federal grants to fund resilience efforts across Rhode

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Island;

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     (11) Coordinate resilience efforts with decarbonization programs, activities, and policies

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taken in accordance with the chapter 6.2 of title 42 ("2021 act on climate");

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     (12) Provide technical assistance to municipalities and the state for the implementation of

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resilience planning, including resilience frameworks, vulnerability profiles, risk-reduction plans,

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and economic development strategies; and

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     (13) Provide biennial reports to the RIEC4, the governor, the speaker of the house of

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representatives, and the president of the senate on the state of resilience in Rhode Island, with the

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first report to be submitted by December 31, 2026.

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     46-23.4-3. Statewide coastal resilience plan.

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     (a) The Rhode Island statewide climate change resilience strategy shall include a coastal

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resilience plan that recommends a specific long-term and short-term strategy for climate change

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resilience and adaptation in the coastal areas of the state including, but not limited to, tidal and non-

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tidal waters, waterfronts, and inland areas along the coast.

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     (b) The statewide coastal resilience plan shall include at a minimum:

 

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     (1) All necessary information and assessments required by the Federal Emergency

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Management Agency (FEMA) advanced mitigation plans that will allow Rhode Island to apply for

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federal funding for coastal resilience preparedness;

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     (2) An assessment of the vulnerabilities of communities located within the coastal areas to

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climate change effects such as rising sea levels, increased flooding, and tidal and storm surge

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flooding anticipated by the year 2050, including physical, economic, and social vulnerabilities

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including, but not limited to:

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     (i) Power infrastructure;

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     (ii) Water and sewage infrastructure including water and sewage treatment facilities and

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private wells and septic systems;

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     (iii) Stormwater drainage;

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     (iv) Existing hard infrastructure such as seawalls, tidal gates, dams, roads and bridges; and

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     (v) Emergency and shelter facilities;

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     (3) Comprehensive and detailed information of the investments that the state, along with

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the federal government, local governments, and other organizations, have made or committed to

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make in building the resilience of coastal communities, planning guidance and assistance, and other

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resilience and adaptation measures;

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     (4) Recommend methodologies for decision-making for further investment of state or

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federal funds in constructing additional hard or nature-based resilience structures to prevent or

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mitigate impacts of climate change, or in adopting other resilience or adaptation strategies;

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     (5) A detailed analysis that includes assessment of highest, immediate and long-term risks

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to the coastal regions; and

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     (6) A comprehensive list of any recommendations for actions to be taken by the state to

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prepare coastal communities to plan, mitigate, and adapt to the anticipated impacts of climate

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change including, but not limited to, stormwater drainage, hard infrastructure, nature-based

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solutions, relocation and retreat strategies and for financing strategies to fund the recommended

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resilience and adaptation measures.

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     (c) The statewide coastal resilience plan shall be updated as necessary and shall be

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reviewed at least every two (2) years, beginning October 1, 2028, by the CRO.

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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 WATERS AND NAVIGATION -- ACT ON COASTS - COASTAL

RESILIENCY

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     This act would require the chief resilience officer (CRO) to be charged with the creation,

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maintenance and updating of the statewide coastal resilience plan. The act would also create a

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statewide climate change coastal resilience plan.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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