2012 -- H 7942 SUBSTITUTE B

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LC01956/SUB B

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2012

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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:

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

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

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

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hereby created an independent advisory commission to the Rhode Island coastal resources

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management council known as "The Rhode Island Climate Change Commission" consisting of

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twenty-eight (28) members as follows: three (3) of whom shall be members of the senate, to be

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appointed by the senate president, not more than two (2) from the same political party; three (3)

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of whom shall be members of the house of representatives, to be appointed by the speaker of the

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house not more than two (2) from the same political party; one of whom shall be the director of

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the department of environmental management, or his or her designee; one of whom shall be the

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executive director of the coastal resources management council, or his or her designee; one of

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

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

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of whom shall be the director of the Rhode Island department of health, or his or her designee;

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one of whom shall be the chief of staff of the water resources board, or his or her designee; one of

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

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

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the Rhode Island emergency management agency, or his or her designee; two (2) of whom shall

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represent municipal governments of coastal municipalities one appointed by the senate president

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and one appointed by the speaker of the house; two (2) of whom shall be representatives of

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environmental non-profit organizations, appointed by the environment council of Rhode Island;

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two (2) of whom shall be representatives of business, one designated by the greater Providence

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chamber of commerce and one designated by the Rhode Island chamber of commerce coalition;

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two (2) of whom shall be representatives of higher education institutions, one appointed by the

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board of governors for higher education and one appointed by the association of independent

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colleges and universities of Rhode Island; one of whom shall be a representative of a utility

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distribution company having greater than one hundred thousand (100,000) customers to be

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appointed by the senate president; one of whom shall be the executive director of the Rhode

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

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

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director of the American institute of architects of Rhode Island, or his or her designee; and one of

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whom shall represent the medical profession, including, but not limited to, a doctor or nurse, to be

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appointed by the speaker of the house.

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

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

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

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

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

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maintenance.

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

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including but not limited to:

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

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

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incorporate adaptation strategies.

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

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

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

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

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droughts and rainfall events.

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

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

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

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flooding and extended extreme summer heat.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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to thirty percent (30%).

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

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

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hazards from flooding and drought cycles.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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bioretention areas.

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

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as an adaptation option.

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

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

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

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

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

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climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies for local implementation.

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

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impervious surfaces in urban areas and runoff.

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

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

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

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

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

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change and adaptation options and recommending opportunities for coordinated outreach

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programs within Rhode Island.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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for the commission.

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     (e) The commission shall receive staff and administrative support from the Rhode Island

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coastal resources management council. The Rhode Island coastal resources management council

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shall furnish the advisory commission a suitable location to hold its meetings.

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

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governor and the general assembly no later than March 1, 2011 2013, and every March 1

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thereafter.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC01956/SUB B

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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

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     This act would create an advisory commission to the Rhode Island coastal resources

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management council known as the "Rhode Island climate change commission."

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC01956/SUB B

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