2025 -- S 0831

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LC001555

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025

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J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY AND PROVIDE

RECOMMENDATIONS TO SAFEGUARD RHODE ISLAND AGAINST THE USE OF

NUCLEAR WEAPONS

     Introduced By: Senator Tiara T. Mack

     Date Introduced: March 14, 2025

     Referred To: Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs

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

consisting of eleven (11) members, all of whom shall be United States citizens who are residents

of Rhode Island, and who credibly reflect the makeup of the State's population with respect to

gender, cultural, and ancestry background and who shall have publicly applied for membership

on the commission; one of whom shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House; one of whom

shall be appointed by the President of the Senate; one of whom shall be appointed by the RI

Attorney General; and eight (8) of whom shall be appointed by the Secretary of State in

consultation with the Governor.

     The application to serve on the special commission shall include:

     • The intent of the applicant to advance the investigation established by this

Resolution;

     • The city or town in which the applicant resides;

     • The employment or retirement status of the applicant; and

     • The applicant's interest in serving on the commission and their view of why they

might make an important contribution to the work of the commission.

     The Secretary of State shall post the appointment opportunity on the official website of

the State within thirty (30) days of the passage of this Resolution, and all applications for service

on the commission shall be submitted within thirty (30) days of the posting of the appointment

opportunity. All appointments to the commission shall be made no sooner than ninety (90) days,

nor later than one hundred twenty (120) days after the passage of this Resolution.

     The purpose of said commission shall be to investigate and report on what measures may

be necessary and appropriate to protect the environment, wildlife, culture, and population of

Rhode Island from the existential threat posed by nuclear weapons and to contribute toward the

total elimination of these weapons under multi-lateral negotiation per the auspices of the 1970

Non-Proliferation Treaty; the 2010 New Start Treaty; and the 2021 Treaty on the Prohibition of

Nuclear Weapons as provided for in Article 4 of said treaty. Topics to be addressed by the

commission shall include, but not be limited to, the harms posed to Rhode Island by nuclear

weapons such as:

     • Physical destruction from explosions, fire, and radioactive contamination;

     • Infrastructure collapse including roads, bridges, electricity, and

telecommunication;

     • Disruption of essential services such as food and fuel supply, financial systems,

healthcare services, and housing;

     • Environmental devastation, including the loss of natural resources, ecosystems,

and biodiversity;

     • Severe harm to the physical and mental well-being of Rhode Island residents;

     • Severe disruptions to Rhode Island from a nuclear attack on a nearby state or city

(i.e. NYC or Boston) including radiation poisoning to organisms and water supplies, electrical

blackouts; and

     • Food supply interruption, and any other matters the commission deems

appropriate.

     The commission's deliberations shall also touch on the probable inability of preventing

the single, first use of a nuclear weapon from escalating into full-scale nuclear war; and the

scientifically validated danger of a years-long "nuclear winter" which would follow such a war

and would limit the growth of crops and lead to widespread human starvation.

     The commission shall also investigate measures and make recommendations to the

government and people of Rhode Island including, but not be limited to, financial, legislative, or

legal measures to assist or encourage transition from nuclear weapons-related employment and

commercial activities within the State to jobs and activities that instead address the climate crisis

and other pressing social needs such as health care, housing, education, and elimination of

poverty and discrimination.

     No later than thirty (30) days after the appointment of the final member of the

commission, the members shall meet and organize and shall elect co-chairpersons by majority

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vote. The commission shall use procedures and decision-making per the currently in force rules

of the Senate. The commission's proceedings, meetings, and activities shall be subject to the Open

Meetings law of the State of Rhode Island.

     The commission shall meet on a regular basis to research, gather evidence, and hear

testimony and advice in the manner that the members of the commission determine is the most

suitable for achieving its purpose. The commission shall hold at least five (5) public hearings

across the State to gather public input and inform citizens and legislators about the humanitarian

and environmental consequences of nuclear weapons use. These hearings shall address the

potential impact of a nuclear explosion on Providence or Quonset Point, including direct

destruction, radioactive fallout downwind, and long-term contamination. They shall also examine

any potential diplomatic breakthroughs such as entry into force of the Treaty on the Prohibition of

Nuclear Weapons or other international diplomatic agreements aimed at reducing the threat of

nuclear war. The topics of employment, technologies, and industries within the State devoted to

both nuclear weapons and climate change shall be addressed.

     All members of the Rhode Island public shall be given a reasonable opportunity to offer

their views and ideas related to the subjects under examination by the commission.

     If vacancies occur in the commission, the Secretary of State shall fill them after accepting

applications as in the original appointments.

     The members of the special commission shall receive no compensation for their services.

     The commission shall use State-owned public halls for the hearing venues without

necessity of payments.

     All departments and agencies of the State shall furnish such advice and information,

documentary and otherwise, to the commission and its agents as is deemed necessary by the

commission to facilitate the purpose of this resolution.

     The Joint Committee on Legislative Services 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, if applicable, drafts of

legislation to implement them, to the General Assembly, Governor, Lieutenant Governor,

Secretary of State, Attorney General, and all members of the Rhode Island Congressional

Delegation, as well as to the press and the general public, no later than August 6, 2026; and said

commission shall expire on November 6, 2026.

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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

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY AND PROVIDE

RECOMMENDATIONS TO SAFEGUARD RHODE ISLAND AGAINST THE USE OF

NUCLEAR WEAPONS

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     This resolution would create an eleven (11) member special legislative study commission

whose purpose it would be to study and provide recommendations to safeguard Rhode Island

against use of nuclear weapons, and who would report back no later than August 6, 2026, and

whose life would expire on November 6, 2026.

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