| R 412 |
| 2022 -- H 8376 Enacted 06/24/2022 |
| H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N |
| CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY AND PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE ISSUE OF PFAS IN FIREFIGHTER GEAR |
Introduced By: Representatives Speakman, Cortvriend, Carson, Blazejewski, Casimiro, Solomon, Donovan, Casey, Hawkins, and Bennett |
| Date Introduced: June 24, 2022 |
| WHEREAS, Chemicals known as PFAS, Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are used to |
| make firefighter gear resistant to flames, water and oil, and have been associated with potential |
| adverse health effects; now, therefore be it |
| RESOLVED, That a special legislative commission be and the same is hereby created |
| consisting of nine (9) members: two (2) of whom shall be members of the Rhode Island House of |
| Representatives, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; one of whom shall the Director of |
| the Department of Environmental Management, or designee; one of whom shall be the Director |
| of the Department of Health, or designee; one of whom shall be the Director of the Emergency |
| Management Agency, or designee; one of whom shall be the President of the Executive Board of |
| the Rhode Island Association of Fire Chiefs, or designee; one of whom shall be the Director of |
| the Rhode Island State Association of Fire Fighters, or designee; one of whom shall be the |
| Director of the League of Cities and Towns, or designee; and one of whom shall be the Chief of |
| the Civil Division, Office of the Attorney General, or designee. |
| In lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to a legislative study |
| commission created by this General Assembly resolution, the Speaker shall appoint a member of |
| the general public to serve in lieu of a legislator. |
| The purpose of said commission shall be to make a comprehensive study and provide |
| recommendations on the issue of PFAS in firefighter gear including: |
| Researching the development of alternatives to this gear; |
| Recommending a timeline for replacing gear statewide; and |
| Recommending a potential strategy for funding the replacement gear from state or |
| federal funds. |
| Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall meet |
| after October 1, 2022, at the call of the Speaker of the House and organize and the Speaker shall |
| select 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 January 1, 2024, and said commission shall expire on |
| March 1, 2024. |
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| LC006186 |
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