2012 -- S 3016

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LC02656

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2012

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

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY PRODUCE

RESPONSIBILITY MODELS FOR PAPER AND PACKAGING

     Introduced By: Senators Paiva Weed, Sosnowski, Ruggerio, Lombardo, and Miller

     Date Introduced: May 24, 2012

     Referred To: Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs

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

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consisting of eleven (11) members: three (3) of whom shall be representatives from the House of

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Representatives, not more than two (2) of whom shall be from the same political party, to be

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appointed by the Speaker of the House; three (3) of whom shall be representatives from the

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Senate, not more than two (2) of whom shall be from the same political party, to be appointed by

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the Senate President; one of whom shall be the Director of the recycling program from the Rhode

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Island Resource Recovery Corporation, or designee; two (2) of whom shall be representatives of

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environmental interests, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; and two (2) of whom shall

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be representatives of the business industry, including an expert on producer responsibility

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programs for paper and packaging, to be appointed by the Senate President.

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

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commission, a legislative study commission, or any commission created by a General Assembly

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

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

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is entitled to the appointment consents to the member of the general public.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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structures for agency oversight of a collection and recycling program.

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

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the call of the Speaker of the House who shall select a co-chairperson from among the

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Representatives and the Senate President who shall select a co-chairperson from among the

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Senators.

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

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

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

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

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

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     The Joint Committee on Legislative Services is hereby authorized and directed to provide

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suitable quarters for said commission; and be it further

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

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Speaker and Senate President no later than January 17, 2013, and said commission shall expire on

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February 14, 2013.

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LC02656

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