2024 -- S 2356

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LC004692

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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 STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- THE RHODE ISLAND

CLIMATE CHANGE AND OCEAN PROTECTION YOUTH EDUCATION AND

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT ACT

     

     Introduced By: Senators Lawson, Euer, Gu, Lauria, Britto, Pearson, DiMario, Valverde,
Miller, and Mack

     Date Introduced: February 12, 2024

     Referred To: Senate Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Title 42 of the General Laws entitled "STATE AFFAIRS AND

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GOVERNMENT" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

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CHAPTER 6.3

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THE RHODE ISLAND CLIMATE CHANGE AND OCEAN PROTECTION YOUTH

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EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT ACT

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     42-6.3-1. Short title.

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     This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "The Rhode Island Climate Change

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and Ocean Protection Youth Education and Workforce Development Act".

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     42-6.3-2. Definitions.

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     As used in this chapter:

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     (1) "Apprenticeship" means a proven model of job preparation that combines paid on-the-

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job learning with related instruction to progressively increase workers' skill levels and wages. It is

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an employer-driven model that provides an effective way for employers to recruit, train, and retain

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highly skilled workers. As an earn and learn strategy, apprenticeship offers job seekers immediate

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employment that offers advancement along a career path and a nationally recognized credential.

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     (2) "Blue economy" means an economy built on the sustainable use of ocean resources for

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economic growth, improved livelihoods, and jobs while preserving the health of the ocean

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ecosystem.

 

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     (3) "Climate change education" means nonformal and formal interdisciplinary learning at

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all age levels about:

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     (i) Climate change, climate adaptation and mitigation, climate resilience, and climate

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justice; and

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     (ii) The effects of climate change, climate adaptation and mitigation, climate resilience,

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and climate justice on the environmental, energy, social, and economic systems of the United

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States.

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     (4) "Climate justice" means the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people,

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regardless of race, color, culture, national origin, or income, with respect to the development,

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implementation, and enforcement of policies and projects to ensure that each person enjoys the

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same degree of protection from the adverse effects of climate change.

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     (5) "Climate literacy" means competence or knowledge of climate change, its causes and

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impacts, and the technical, scientific, economic, and social dynamics of promising solutions.

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     (6) "Communities of practice" means a network of practitioners bound by a shared interest

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and purpose who develop relationships, share ideas, and build knowledge and skills through

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repeated interactions to advance a domain of professional practice.

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     (7) "Environmental justice" means the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all

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people, regardless of race, color, culture, national origin, or income, with respect to the

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development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies to

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ensure that each person enjoys:

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     (i) The same degree of protection from environmental and health hazards; and

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     (ii) Equal access to any state agency action on environmental justice issues in order to have

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a healthy environment in which to live, learn, work, and recreate.

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     (8) "Environmental justice community" means a community with significant representation

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of communities of color, low-income communities, or tribal and indigenous communities that

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experiences, or is at risk of experiencing higher or more adverse human health or environmental

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effects as compared to other communities.

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     (9) "Green economy" means an economy that results in improved human and economic

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well-being and social equity by significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological

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scarcities.

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     10) "Local educational agency" and "state educational agency" have the meanings given

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those terms in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, 20 U.S.C. 7801.

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     (11) "Nonformal" means, with respect to learning, out-of-school educational programming

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carried out by nonprofit organizations and public agencies.

 

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     (12) "Nonprofit organization" means an organization exempt from taxation pursuant to the

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provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, 26 U.S.C. § 501.

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     (13) "Ocean literacy" means competence or knowledge of the ocean, its interaction with

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humans, and the technical, scientific, economic, and social dynamics of ocean protection.

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     (14) "Ocean protection education" means nonformal and formal interdisciplinary learning

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at all age levels about:

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     (i) Ocean life, human interactions with the ocean, the ocean's physical geography, and

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ocean-related environmental issues; and

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     (ii) The effects of ocean-related environmental issues on the environmental, energy, social,

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and economic systems of the United States.

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     42-6.3-3. Appropriations.

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     (a) For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2024, there is hereby appropriated, out of money

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in the treasury not otherwise appropriated the sum of two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000)

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to implement the grant program provided in § 42-6.3-4; and the state controller is hereby authorized

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and directed to draw the controller's orders upon the general treasurer for payment of said sum, or

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so much thereof as may be from time to time required, upon receipt by the general treasurer of

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properly authenticated vouchers.

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     (b) For the fiscal year 2025-2026, and each fiscal year thereafter, the general assembly

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shall annually appropriate a sum as it may deem necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter,

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and the state controller is hereby authorized and directed to draw the controller's orders upon the

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general treasurer for the payment of the sum or sums or so much thereof as may be required from

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time to time, upon receipt by the general treasurer of properly authenticated vouchers.

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     42-6.3-4. Grant program.

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     (a) There is hereby established a grant program to promote and enhance climate change

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and ocean protection educational programs for youth pursuant to the provisions of this chapter. The

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director of the department of labor and training, after consultation with the director of the

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department of environmental management, shall disburse appropriated funds pursuant to § 42-6.3-

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3 to eligible recipients using a competitive grant process, and establish standards and an application

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process for the grants, in order to:

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     (1) Increase capacity at established organizations running climate change and/or ocean

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protection education programs that will enhance the climate and ocean literacy of Rhode Island

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youth and workforce by broadening the understanding of climate change and ocean protection,

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including possible long-term and short-term consequences, disproportionate impacts of those

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consequences, and potential solutions;

 

LC004692 - Page 3 of 6

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     (2) Apply the latest scientific and technological discoveries to provide formal and

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nonformal learning opportunities to youth, including those of diverse cultural and linguistic

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backgrounds; and

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     (3) Emphasize actionable information and transferrable skills to help young people

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understand and engage new technologies, programs, and incentives related to climate change,

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climate adaptation and mitigation, climate resilience, climate justice, environmental justice, and

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ocean protection.

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     (b) Eligible recipients shall include:

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     (1) State educational agencies, in collaboration with local educational agencies and local

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nonprofit organizations, for the implementation of climate and ocean literacy plans for formal and

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nonformal climate change and ocean protection education for people ages five (5) through eighteen

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(18) that:

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     (i) Are aligned with state education standards;

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     (ii) Include relevant teacher training and professional development; and

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     (iii) Include at least one of the following:

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     (A) Integration of key climate change and ocean protection concepts into state education

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standards for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), civics and social studies,

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and other relevant subject areas during the next revision of such standards.

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     (B) Development of climate change and ocean protection education frameworks and model

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curricula and curation and dissemination of existing climate change and ocean protection

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curriculum materials.

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     (C) Creation of applied learning project-based models, such as models making optimum

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use of green features improvements to school facilities, such as energy systems, lighting systems,

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water management, waste management, and school grounds improvements.

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     (D) Incorporation of climate change mitigation and blue and green economy technologies

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into new and existing career and technical education career tracks and work-based learning

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experiences, including development of partnerships with labor organizations, trade organizations,

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and apprenticeship programs.

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     (2) Youth development and nonprofit organization programs that engage in community-

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based climate mitigation and adaptation and ocean protection work that includes a substantive

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academic enrichment component for youth ages five (5) through eighteen (18).

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     (3) State-recognized tribal programs that engage in community-based climate mitigation

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and adaptation and ocean protection work that includes a substantive academic enrichment

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component for youth ages five (5) through eighteen (18).

 

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     42-6.3-5. Department of labor and training - Administration of program.

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     (a) The director of the department of labor and training, after consultation with the

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department of environmental management, shall administer the grant program established pursuant

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to § 42-6.3-4 using a competitive grant process, and establish standards and an application process

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for the grants.

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     (b) The director of the department of labor and training shall annually consult with other

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relevant agencies of state and municipal government, nonprofit organizations, and community-

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based organizations to determine ways in which grant making pursuant to the provisions of this

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chapter may enhance and support climate change and ocean protection education, workforce

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development and training, and environmental justice goals.

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     (c) The director of the department of labor and training shall direct at least forty percent

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(40%) percent of all funds appropriated for grants to serve environmental justice communities.

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     (d) The director of the department of labor and training, with the assistance of the office of

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post-secondary education, shall establish communities of practice with respect to each of the factors

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set forth herein.

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     42-6.3-6. Rules and regulation.

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     The director of the department of labor and training shall promulgate rules and regulations

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to implement the provisions of this chapter.

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     42-6.3-7. Reports.

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     The director of the department of labor and training shall report annually to the general

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assembly and the governor no later than December 31 of each year on the status and progress of

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the program established and administered pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC004692

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- THE RHODE ISLAND

CLIMATE CHANGE AND OCEAN PROTECTION YOUTH EDUCATION AND

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT ACT

***

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     This act would establish the Rhode Island Climate Change and Ocean Protection Youth

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Education and Workforce Development Act. For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2024, there would

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be appropriated two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) to implement a grant program

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administered by the department of labor and training to promote climate change and ocean

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protection educational opportunities for youth ages five (5) through eighteen (18). Additional

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annual appropriations would be authorized by the general assembly.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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