R 321

2003 -- H 6577

Enacted 07/02/03

H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL HOUSE COMMISSION TO STUDY THE STATUS OF THE

STATE'S POLICY FORMULATION AND PLANNING FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL

MANAGEMENT AND SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF RHODE

ISLAND'S BAYS AND THEIR WATERSHEDS

Introduced By: Representatives Naughton, Lewiss, Fox, Carter, and Crowley

Date Introduced: June 25, 2003

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

entitled “The Bay Trust” consisting of sixteen (16) members: six (6) of whom shall be from the

House of Representatives, not more than five (5) from the same political party, to be appointed by

the Speaker of the House; one (1) of whom shall be the Director of the Department of

Environmental Management, or designee; one (1) of whom shall be the chairperson of the Coastal

Resources Management Council, or designee; one (1) of whom shall be the Director of the

Economic Development Corporation, or designee; one (1) of whom shall be the Director of the

Department of Statewide Planning, or designee; two (2) of whom shall be representatives of

environmental advocacy organizations, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; two (2) of

whom shall be representatives of commercial marine interest groups, to be appointed by the

Speaker of the House; and two (2) of whom shall be representatives of academic institutions, to

be appointed by the Speaker of the House.

     In lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to a permanent advisory

commission, a legislative study commission, or any commission created by a General Assembly

resolution, the appointing authority may appoint a member of the general public to serve in lieu

of a legislator; provided, that the Majority Leader or the Minority Leader of the political party

which is entitled to the appointment consents to the appointment of the member of the general

public.

     The purpose of said commission shall be to study the status of the state’s policy

formulation for the environmental management and sustainable economic development of Rhode

Island’s bays and their watersheds, to examine models and best practices of planning for marine

areas and their watersheds from other jurisdictions, to assess the goals and objectives for such

planning in Rhode Island and to analyze the adequacy of authority and capacity of state agencies

and other public bodies to undertake planning for marine areas and their watersheds. The

commission shall report its findings and recommendations regarding any needed improvements in

policy development and planning for marine areas and their watersheds to the General Assembly.

     Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall meet at

the call of the Speaker of the House and organize and shall select, from among the legislators, a

chairperson. Vacancies in said commission shall be filled in like manner as the original

appointment.

     The membership of said commission shall receive no compensation for their services.

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

documentary and otherwise, to said commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or

desirable by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this resolution.

     The Speaker of the House 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 recommendations to the

House of Representatives on or before March 9, 2004, and said commission shall expire on May

9, 2004.

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LC03545

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