| R 443 |
| 2023 -- H 5502 SUBSTITUTE A Enacted 06/23/2023 |
| J O I N T R E S O L U T I O N |
| CREATING A SPECIAL JOINT LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY AND PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS TO PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES FROM PLASTIC BOTTLE WASTE |
Introduced By: Representatives McEntee, Bennett, Cortvriend, Knight, Caldwell, McGaw, Fogarty, Potter, Cruz, and Kislak |
| Date Introduced: February 10, 2023 |
| WHEREAS, Plastic pollution is dangerous to the health of our oceans, harms our marine |
| species, contributes to climate change, and is a major component of unsightly litter both on our |
| lands and in our waters; and |
| WHEREAS, Rhode Island is on a path towards achieving net-zero carbon emission and |
| reducing our plastic refuse; and |
| WHEREAS, Plastics are found throughout our environment from street drains to |
| waterways; and |
| WHEREAS, It is in the best interests of the health, safety, and welfare of residents and |
| visitors to Rhode Island to protect our environment and natural resources from plastic waste; |
| now, therefore be it |
| RESOLVED, That a special joint legislative commission be and the same is hereby |
| created consisting of eighteen (18) members: three (3) of whom shall be members of the Senate, |
| not more than two (2) from the same political party, to be appointed by the President of the |
| Senate; and three (3) of whom shall be members of the House, not more than two (2) from the |
| same political party, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be the |
| Director of the Department of Environmental Management, or designee; one of whom shall be |
| the Director of Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation, or designee; one of whom shall be |
| the Executive Director of Save the Bay, or designee; one of whom shall be the Executive Director |
| of Clean Water Action, or designee; one of whom shall be the President of the Rhode Island |
| Beverage Association, or designee; one of whom shall be from the Rhode Island Alcohol |
| Beverage Distributors, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be the |
| Executive Director of the Rhode Island Food Dealers, or designee; one of whom shall be the |
| President and CEO of the National Beer Wholesalers, or designee; one of whom shall be from the |
| Rhode Island Liquor Collaborative, to be appointed by the President of the Senate; one of whom |
| shall be the Executive Director of the RI Audubon Society, or designee; one of whom shall be a |
| Rhode Island attorney who specializes in environmental law, to be appointed by the Speaker of |
| the House; and one of whom shall be a representative from a local convenience store, to be |
| appointed by the President of the Senate. |
| In lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to 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 member of the general public. |
| The purpose of said commission shall include, but not be limited to: |
| A comprehensive study on the issues with current practices for recycling of plastic |
| bottles, miniature alcoholic beverage containers, and single-use plastic packaging; |
| · Identify pathways to improve the state's ability to address and recycle plastic bottles, |
| miniature alcoholic beverage containers, and single-use plastic packaging; |
| · Compare container deposit programs and extender producer responsibility recycling |
| programs, including their methods and administration, that rely on state administration with those |
| that utilize third-party nonprofit entity administration; |
| · Waste diversion; |
| · Provide recommendations for market-based recycling opportunities for plastic bottles |
| and miniature alcoholic beverage containers; and |
| · Review and evaluate refund balances on bottle utilization. |
| By September 1, 2023, upon passage of the joint resolution, the members of the joint |
| legislative commission shall meet at the call of the Speaker of the House and the President of the |
| Senate to organize and shall select two (2) co-chairpersons from among the legislators. |
| 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 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 |
| General Assembly no later than June 10, 2024, and said commission shall expire on June 30, |
| 2024. |
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| LC000986/SUB A |
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