2026 -- H 7705

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LC005124

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026

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J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $40,000 TO THE RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT (DEM) FOR THE NORTHEASTERN FOREST FIRE

PROTECTION COMPACT

     Introduced By: Representatives Cotter, Chippendale, Speakman, Carson, McGaw,
Kennedy, Kazarian, and Tanzi

     Date Introduced: February 11, 2026

     Referred To: House Finance

     WHEREAS, The Northeastern Forest Fire Protection Compact (NFFPC) was established

in 1949, and acts as a mutual aid pact for wildfires exceeding local capabilities; and

     WHEREAS, Currently, the NFFPC has a formal agreement among seven New England

states, New York, and five Canadian provinces that provides for sharing of firefighting resources,

technology, and training; and

     WHEREAS, Rhode Island is an active member of the Northeastern Forest Fire Protection

Compact (NFFPC) with the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management's Division

of Forest Environment representing the State; and

     WHEREAS, The compact serves to facilitate cost-sharing and resource sharing during

emergencies, allowing states to access specialized resources without maintaining them full-time,

however, when a state requests aid, that state is responsible for paying the wages, salaries,

transportation, and maintenance of the employees and equipment from the assisting state; now,

therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That there is hereby appropriated, out of any money in the treasury not

otherwise appropriated for the fiscal year 2026-2027, the sum of forty thousand dollars ($40,000)

to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management for The Northeastern Forest Fire

Protection Compact (NFFPC); and the state controller is hereby authorized and directed to draw

their orders upon the general treasurer for the payment of said sum, or so much thereof as may be

     from time to time required, upon receipt of properly authenticated vouchers.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $40,000 TO THE RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT (DEM) FOR THE NORTHEASTERN FOREST FIRE

PROTECTION COMPACT

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     This resolution would appropriate the sum of $40,000 to the Rhode Island Department of

Environmental Management.

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