2012 -- H 7942

=======

LC01956

=======

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2012

____________

A N A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY - THE RHODE ISLAND CLIMATE RISK

REDUCTION ACT OF 2010

     Introduced By: Representative Christopher R. Blazejewski

     Date Introduced: March 14, 2012

     Referred To: House Environment and Natural Resources

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

1-1

     SECTION 1. Section 23-84-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-84 entitled "The Rhode

1-2

Island Climate Risk Reduction Act of 2010" is hereby amended to read as follows:

1-3

     23-84-3. Creation of The Rhode Island Climate Change Commission. -- (a) There is

1-4

hereby created an independent commission known as "The Rhode Island Climate Change

1-5

Commission" consisting of twenty-eight (28) members as follows: three (3) of whom shall be

1-6

members of the senate, to be appointed by the senate president, not more than two (2) from the

1-7

same political party; three (3) of whom shall be members of the house of representatives, to be

1-8

appointed by the speaker of the house not more than two (2) from the same political party; one of

1-9

whom shall be the director of the department of environmental management, or his or her

1-10

designee; one of whom shall be the executive director of the coastal resources management

1-11

council, or his or her designee; one of whom shall be the director of the department of

1-12

transportation, or his or her designee; one of whom shall be the chair of the Rhode Island bays,

1-13

rivers, and watersheds coordination team; one of whom shall be the director of the Rhode Island

1-14

department of health, or his or her designee; one of whom shall be the chief of staff of the water

1-15

resources board, or his or her designee; one of whom shall be the director of the division of

1-16

planning, or his or her designee; one of whom shall be the state building commissioner, or his or

1-17

her designee; one of whom shall be the director of the Rhode Island emergency management

1-18

agency, or his or her designee; two (2) of whom shall represent municipal governments of coastal

1-19

municipalities one appointed by the senate president and one appointed by the speaker of the

2-1

house; two (2) of whom shall be representatives of environmental non-profit organizations,

2-2

appointed by the environment council of Rhode Island; two (2) of whom shall be representatives

2-3

of business, one designated by the greater Providence chamber of commerce and one designated

2-4

by the Rhode Island chamber of commerce coalition; two (2) of whom shall be representatives of

2-5

higher education institutions, one appointed by the board of governors for higher education and

2-6

one appointed by the association of independent colleges and universities of Rhode Island; one of

2-7

whom shall be a representative of a utility distribution company having greater than one hundred

2-8

thousand (100,000) customers to be appointed by the senate president; one of whom shall be the

2-9

executive director of the Rhode Island realtors association, or his or her designee; one of whom

2-10

shall be the executive director of the Rhode Island builders association, or his or her designee;

2-11

one of whom shall be the executive director of the American institute of architects of Rhode

2-12

Island, or his or her designee; and one of whom shall represent the medical profession, including,

2-13

but not limited to, a doctor or nurse, to be appointed by the speaker of the house.

2-14

      (b) The purposes of the commission shall be to study the projected impacts of climate

2-15

change on Rhode Island, to identify and report methods of adapting to these climate change

2-16

impacts in order to reduce likely harm and increase economic and ecosystem sustainability, and

2-17

to identify potential mechanisms to mainstream climate adaptation into existing state and

2-18

municipal programs including, but not limited to, policies plans, infrastructure development and

2-19

maintenance.

2-20

      (c) The commission shall support its purposes by undertaking the following duties

2-21

including but not limited to:

2-22

      (1) Recommending how to mainstream climate change, using a climate "lens", into

2-23

existing state and local programs, policies and standards, and identify potential options to

2-24

incorporate adaptation strategies.

2-25

      (2) Compiling existing studies, research and programs relevant to climate change trends

2-26

and potential impacts in Rhode Island and identifying gaps in the research available.

2-27

      (3) Conducting a comprehensive overview of the risks Rhode Island may face as a result

2-28

of rising air and water temperatures and sea level, increased storminess, and more intense

2-29

droughts and rainfall events.

2-30

      (4) Investigating the vulnerability of critical roads, bridges, protection infrastructure such

2-31

as hurricane barriers, dams, and revetments, and public facilities such as hospitals, schools,

2-32

sewage treatment plants, parks and beaches and other critical utilities to sea level rise, increased

2-33

flooding and extended extreme summer heat.

3-34

      (5) Exploring potential changes to floodplains and ways to notify homeowners, renters

3-35

and commercial property owners of not only a property's flooding history but also its expected

3-36

risk under projected levels of climate change and sea level rise.

3-37

      (6) Assessing ecosystem impacts such as salt marshes, forests, and urban tree canopy and

3-38

researching tree and plant species that will be most resilient to climate change expected in Rhode

3-39

Island, as well as ways to secure additional funding to support the expansion of urban tree canopy

3-40

to thirty percent (30%).

3-41

      (7) Identifying potential ecosystem based adaptation options where conservation or

3-42

restoration of natural ecosystems can provide key ecosystems services by minimizing risks and

3-43

hazards from flooding and drought cycles.

3-44

      (8) Identifying ways to increase Rhode Islanders' access to critical community health

3-45

services that are expected to become more important as a result of projected climate impacts.

3-46

      (9) Investigating potential impacts from non-point source pollution due to hydrological

3-47

changes including stormwater runoff options for the Phase 2 Narragansett Bay Commission's

3-48

Combined Sewer Overflow project, and implementing small-scale projects such as increasing the

3-49

percentage of pervious surfaces in residential areas such as yards and gardens.

3-50

      (10) Exploring possibilities to make funds or low interest loans available for

3-51

governmental entities, non-profit entities and businesses to implement adaptation strategies,

3-52

including green infrastructure projects on their properties, including green roofs, walls, and

3-53

bioretention areas.

3-54

      (11) Investigating possibilities to expand energy efficiency and weatherization programs

3-55

as an adaptation option.

3-56

      (12) Reviewing, among other things, existing local ordinances, provisions adopted by

3-57

associations, deed restrictions, covenants, declarations or similar binding agreements, which

3-58

prohibit or have the effect of prohibiting the installation of solar collectors, clotheslines,

3-59

weatherization improvements, gardens or other energy devices based on renewable resources and

3-60

proposing alternatives that would eliminate said prohibitions and authorize these types of uses as

3-61

climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies for local implementation.

3-62

      (13) Reviewing possibilities to amend regulations to allow street parking to reduce

3-63

impervious surfaces in urban areas and runoff.

3-64

      (14) Investigating how to support local agriculture including urban community gardens,

3-65

and encouraging municipalities to foster neighborhood gardens in empty lots and parks.

3-66

      (15) Developing a plan to expand access to cooling and relief centers by extending hours

3-67

at libraries, community centers and opening pools to the public.

4-68

      (16) Identifying examples and options for outreach and communication on climate

4-69

change and adaptation options and recommending opportunities for coordinated outreach

4-70

programs within Rhode Island.

4-71

      (d) One senator and one representative appointed to the commission shall serve as co-

4-72

chairs and shall call the first meeting of the commission. Vacancies shall be filled in like manner

4-73

as the original appointment. The membership of the commission shall receive no compensation

4-74

for their services. All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such advice and

4-75

information, documentary and otherwise, to the commission and its agents as is deemed

4-76

necessary or desirable by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this chapter. The joint

4-77

committee on legislative services is hereby authorized and directed to provide suitable quarters

4-78

for the commission.

4-79

      (e) The commission shall provide a report of its findings and recommendations to the

4-80

governor and the general assembly no later than March 1, 2011 2012, and every March 1

4-81

thereafter.

4-82

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

=======

LC01956

=======

EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY - THE RHODE ISLAND CLIMATE RISK

REDUCTION ACT OF 2010

***

5-1

     This act would change the date the commission would provide a report of its findings and

5-2

recommendations to the governor, from March 1, 2011 to March 1, 2012.

5-3

     This act would take effect upon passage.

=======

LC01956

=======