| Chapter 193 |
| 2024 -- H 7246 SUBSTITUTE A Enacted 06/17/2024 |
| A N A C T |
| RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- LONG-TERM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT |
Introduced By: Representatives Boylan, Cortvriend, Carson, Spears, Bennett, Kislak, Shanley, Fogarty, McGaw, and Alzate |
| Date Introduced: January 19, 2024 |
| It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: |
| SECTION 1. Section 42-64.17-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-64.17 entitled "Long- |
| Term Economic Development" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
| 42-64.17-1. Long-term economic development vision and policy. |
| (a) The economic development corporation and the division of planning shall develop a |
| written long-term economic development vision and policy for the state of Rhode Island and a |
| strategic plan for implementing this policy. Such a plan shall include, but not be limited to: |
| (1) A unified economic development strategy for the state that integrates business growth |
| with land use and transportation choices; |
| (2) An analysis of how the state’s infrastructure can best support this unified economic |
| development strategy; |
| (3) A focus and prioritization that the outcomes of the economic development strategy be |
| equitable for all Rhode Islanders; |
| (4) Reliance on comprehensive economic data and analysis relating to Rhode Island’s |
| economic competitiveness, business climate, climate change, sea-level rise, coastal resiliency, |
| national and regional reputation, and present economic development resources; |
| (5) Suggestions for improving and expanding the skills, abilities, and resources of state |
| agencies, municipalities, and community partners to speed implementation of the plan’s |
| recommendations; and |
| (6) The inclusion of detailed implementation plans, including stated goals, specific |
| performance measures and indicators. |
| (b) On or before October 31, 2014, the economic development corporation and the division |
| of planning shall submit the written long-term economic development vision and policy and |
| implementation plan to the governor, the senate and the house of representatives. |
| (c) Beginning January 1, 2015, and during the first year of each new or re-elected |
| gubernatorial administration thereafter, the governor shall convene an economic development |
| planning council consisting of no fewer than seventeen (17) nineteen (19) members as follows: |
| (1)(i) The director of the economic development corporation secretary of commerce who |
| shall serve as chair, until such time that the secretary of commerce is appointed; |
| (ii) Upon his or her appointment, the secretary of commerce shall replace the director of |
| the economic development corporation as a member, and shall serve as chair; |
| (2) The director of the department of administration; |
| (3) The director of the department of revenue; |
| (4) The director of the department of labor and training; |
| (5) The director of the department of transportation; |
| (6) The director of the department of business regulation; |
| (7) The commissioner of elementary and secondary education; |
| (8) The commissioner of higher education; |
| (9) The director of the department of environmental management; |
| (10) The executive director of the coastal resources management council; |
| (9)(11) One member who shall be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; |
| (10)(12) One member who shall be appointed by the president of the senate; and |
| (11)(13) Seven (7) members who shall be appointed by the governor as follows: one of |
| whom shall be a representative from the league of cities and towns; one of whom shall be a |
| representative from a chamber of commerce; one of whom shall be from a nonprofit organization |
| representing a major industry sector in Rhode Island; one of whom shall represent a business with |
| more than one hundred (100) employees located in Rhode Island; one of whom shall represent a |
| business with fewer than one hundred (100) employees located in Rhode Island; one of whom shall |
| be from a venture capital firm with a principal place of business in Rhode Island; and one of whom |
| shall represent a private sector labor union. Any department director appointed as a member of the |
| council may appoint a designee from his or her the director’s respective agency to represent |
| him/her the director on the council. Members of the council shall serve for a term of one year or |
| until an economic development policy has been approved by the governor under this section. |
| (d) The economic development planning council and, upon his or her appointment, the |
| secretary of commerce, shall develop a written long-term economic development vision and policy |
| for the state and a strategic plan for implementing the policy. In developing the policy, the council |
| shall review and consider the published economic development policy and implementation plan in |
| effect at the commencement of the governor’s term of office. The policy shall set long-term goals |
| and measurable benchmarks which are not limited to a particular gubernatorial administration and |
| shall give consideration to any impacts the plan may have on businesses employing ten (10) or |
| fewer people. The strategic plan shall include any major economic development initiatives and |
| programs in effect at the time of the plan’s creation. In developing the policy the council may hold |
| public hearings throughout the state. |
| (e) Once the policy and plan have been adopted by the council and, upon his or her the |
| secretary of commerce’s appointment, the secretary of commerce, shall submit the policy and plan |
| to the senate and house of representatives. The final approval of the policy and plan by the governor |
| shall not be granted until the house and senate have conducted a public hearing on the policy and |
| plan. The approved policy and plan shall be published in writing and on the official website of the |
| state no later than December 31 of that year. |
| (f) The economic development corporation shall be responsible for providing staff to |
| support the work of the council, and the division of planning shall also provide staff support. All |
| departments represented on the council shall cooperate with the economic development corporation |
| and the division of planning to facilitate the purposes of this chapter. |
| (g) Subject to funding, the council shall be able to hire consultants and related assistance |
| to provide the type of analysis necessary to inform and perform their work. |
| (h) All departments, offices, boards and agencies of the state shall cooperate with the |
| economic development planning council and furnish such administrative and staff support, advice, |
| information, documentary and otherwise, data and data analysis, and other support as may be |
| necessary or desirable. |
| (i) In carrying out the responsibility under this order, the council may: |
| (1) Accept grant funds and in-kind contributions from governmental and private entities; |
| (2) Hold public hearings; |
| (3) Invite experts and other witnesses to submit testimony; and |
| (4) Contract with experts and consultants as necessary to inform deliberations and |
| recommendations. |
| (j) In addition to any other applicable law, rules or regulations, the economic development |
| planning council shall be subject to the provisions of the Open Meetings Act, title 42, chapter 46 |
| of this title of the Rhode Island general laws, and the Public Records Act, title 38, chapter 2 of |
| title 38 the Rhode Island general laws. |
| SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
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| LC003816/SUB A |
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