2025 -- H 5994

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LC001551

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- DEPARTMENT OF

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Santucci, Quattrocchi, Nardone, Fascia, Bennett, Read,
Slater, Chippendale, Newberry, and Paplauskas

     Date Introduced: February 28, 2025

     Referred To: House Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Chapter 42-17.1 of the General Laws entitled "Department of Environmental

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Management" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

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     42-17.1-2.6. Restricted receipt account.

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     There is hereby established within the general fund of the state a restricted receipt account

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entitled or to be known as the “environmental law enforcement on federal property and boating

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accidents account”. The account shall be housed within the budget of the department of

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environmental management and shall be utilized to achieve compliance with federal law for

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environmental law enforcement on federal property and to respond to boating accidents. Revenue

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generated from agricultural programs administered by the department shall be deposited in the

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restricted receipt account established pursuant to the provisions of this section.

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     SECTION 2. Chapter 42-17.9 of the General Laws entitled "Preservation of State Open

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Space" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

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     42-17.9-7.1. Department of environmental management to maintain list of projects.

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     (a) The department of environmental management shall develop, identify, maintain and

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continuously update a list of projects that qualify for forest and open space land conservation

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funding pursuant to the federal Agricultural Act of 2014, P.L 113-79 (2014), the federal

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Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018, P.L 115-334 (2018) and the federal 2022 Inflation

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Reduction Act, P.L 117-169.

 

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     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- DEPARTMENT OF

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

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     This act would require the department of environmental management to develop, identify,

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maintain and update a list of projects that qualify for forest and open space land conservation

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funding pursuant to federal laws. The act would also require the establishment of a restricted receipt

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account for the revenue generated for the agricultural programs administered by the department.

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The fund would be used to achieve compliance with federal law for environmental law enforcement

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on federal property and for boating accidents.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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