2012 -- H 8039 SUBSTITUTE A

=======

LC02393/SUB A

=======

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2012

____________

J O I N T R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY PRODUCER

RESPONSIBILITY MODELS FOR PAPER AND PACKAGING

     Introduced By: Representatives Walsh, Handy, and Tanzi

     Date Introduced: April 04, 2012

     Referred To: House Environment and Natural Resources

1-1

     RESOLVED, That a special legislative commission be and the same is hereby created

1-2

consisting of eleven (11) members: three (3) of whom shall be from the senate, not more than two

1-3

(2) from the same political party, to be appointed by the president of the senate, and three (3) of

1-4

whom shall be from the house of representatives, not more than two (2) from the same political

1-5

party, to be appointed by the speaker of the house, one shall be the director of the recycling

1-6

program from the Rhode Island resource recovery corporation or designee; two (2) of whom shall

1-7

be representatives of environmental interests appointed by the speaker of the house; two (2) of

1-8

whom shall represent businesses, including an expert on producer responsibility programs for

1-9

paper and packaging, to be appointed by the senate president.

1-10

     In lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to a permanent advisory

1-11

commission, a legislative study commission, or any commission created by a general assembly

1-12

resolution, the appointing authority may appoint a member of the general public to serve in lieu

1-13

of a legislator; provided, that the majority leader or the minority leader of the political party

1-14

which is entitled to the appointment consents to the appointment of the member of the general

1-15

public.

1-16

     The purpose of said commission shall be to make a comprehensive study of the

1-17

opportunity to preserve long-term landfill capacity for Rhode Island municipalities by continuing

1-18

to expand the diversion of paper and packaging through a producer responsibility program.

1-19

     The commission’s recommendations shall include, at a minimum: a set of criteria to be

1-20

used to evaluate paper and packaging materials proposed for product stewardship solutions;

2-1

methods to identify and monitor progress toward stewardship performance goals for collection

2-2

and recycling of materials; options to facilitate the creation of industry-managed stewardship

2-3

management organizations; methods to fund increased diversion of paper and packaging; and

2-4

structures for agency oversight of a collection and recycling program.

2-5

     Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall meet at

2-6

the call of the speaker of the house who shall select a chairperson from among the

2-7

representatives, and of the senate president, who shall select a co-chairperson from among the

2-8

senators.

2-9

     Vacancies in said commission shall be filled in like manner as the original appointment.

2-10

     The membership of said commission shall receive no compensation for their services.

2-11

     All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such advice and information,

2-12

documentary and otherwise, to said commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or

2-13

desirable by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this resolution.

2-14

     The joint committee on legislative services is hereby authorized and directed to provide

2-15

suitable quarters for said commission; and be it further

2-16

     RESOLVED, That the commission shall report its findings and recommendations to the

2-17

senate president and the speaker of the house no later than March 1, 2013, and said commission

2-18

shall expire on June 14, 2013.

=======

LC02393/SUB A

========

EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

J O I N T R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY PRODUCER

RESPONSIBILITY MODELS FOR PAPER AND PACKAGING

***

3-1

     This resolution would create a eleven (11) member permanent legislative commission

3-2

whose purpose it would be to make a comprehensive study of the opportunity to preserve long-

3-3

term landfill capacity for Rhode Island municipalities by continuing to expand the diversion of

3-4

paper and packaging through a producer responsibility program in Rhode Island, and who would

3-5

report to the senate president and the speaker of the house annually, no later than March 1, 2013,

3-6

and whose life would expire on June 14, 2013.

=======

LC02393/SUB A

=======