| R 325 |
| 2016 -- H 8312 SUBSTITUTE A Enacted 06/16/2016 |
| H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N |
| CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY THE PRESENCE AND TREATMENT OF LEAD IN DRINKING WATER IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND |
| Introduced By: Representatives Naughton, Azzinaro, Ajello, and McLaughlin |
| Date Introduced: June 09, 2016 |
| WHEREAS, The presence of lead in drinking water has long been determined to have |
| numerous significant negative health impacts, especially in children; and |
| WHEREAS, The Environmental Protection Agency has set the maximum contaminant |
| level goal for lead in drinking water at zero because lead is a toxic metal that can be harmful to |
| human health even at low exposure levels; and |
| WHEREAS, It is the policy of the state to assure the public that the state is taking all |
| actions to ensure that the risks from lead in the drinking water are addressed, and furthermore, |
| that compliance with the standards set for safe drinking water in the Lead and Copper Rule |
| (LCR), 40 CFR Part 141 Subpart I, are met and/or exceeded; and |
| WHEREAS, It is the policy of the state to cooperate with the Environmental Protection |
| Agency (EPA) in its oversight responsibilities of state programs and address any deficiencies |
| Rhode Island may have in our current implementation of the Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) 40 |
| CFR Part 141 Subpart I; and |
| WHEREAS, It is the policy of the state to provide public health communication and |
| outreach to residents on the steps taken to reduce exposures to lead and if levels in excess of those |
| accepted are detected, information relating to what corrective actions are undertaken to correct |
| the water quality; now therefore, be it |
| RESOLVED, That a special legislative commission be and the same is hereby created |
| and shall consist of eight (8) members: two (2) of whom shall be members of the House of |
| Representatives, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; one of whom |
| shall be the President of the American Academy of Pediatrics Rhode Island Chapter, or designee; |
| one of whom shall be the Executive Director of Rhode Island Kids Count, or designee; one of |
| whom shall be the President of the Rhode Island Water Works Association, or designee; one of |
| whom shall be the Executive Director of the National Utility Contractors Association of Rhode |
| Island, or designee; the President of the Rhode Island School Superintendents’ Association, or |
| designee; and one of whom shall be the Executive Director of the Childhood Lead Action Project, |
| or designee. |
| In lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to this commission, the |
| appointing authority may appoint a member of the general public to serve in lieu of a legislator, |
| provided that the majority leader or minority leader of the political party which is entitled to the |
| appointment consents to the appointment of the member of the general public and the public |
| member is a resident of the State of Rhode Island. |
| The purpose of said commission shall be to make a comprehensive study of the presence |
| of lead in the drinking water supplies in the State; the practices and procedures used by the State |
| to ensure compliance with State and federal laws, rules and regulations regarding lead in drinking |
| water; the condition of drinking water supply infrastructure and the efforts by drinking water |
| suppliers to mitigate lead risk in their systems; the financing options available to drinking water |
| suppliers and property owners to access low cost financing to repair/replace pipes and related |
| infrastructure. |
| Forthwith upon passage of the resolution, the members of the commission shall meet at |
| the call of the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The commission shall have the authority |
| to organize and shall select from among the legislators a chairperson and form subcommittees, |
| when deemed appropriate by a majority of the members. |
| Vacancies in said commission shall be filled in the same manner as the original |
| appointment. |
| The membership of said commission shall receive no compensation for their services. |
| All departments and agencies of the state, including the Departments of Health and |
| Environmental Management, the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank, and the University of Rhode |
| Island’s Water Resources Center, 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 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 recommendations to the |
| House of Representatives no later than April 27, 2017, and said commission shall expire on June |
| 30, 2017. |
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| LC006166/SUB A |
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