2013 -- S 0712

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LC02051

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2013

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A N A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT - LONG-TERM ECONOMIC

DEVELOPMENT VISION AND POLICY

     Introduced By: Senators Ruggerio, Paiva Weed, DiPalma, Pearson, and Walaska

     Date Introduced: March 13, 2013

     Referred To: Senate Commerce

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Title 42 of the General Laws entitled "STATE AFFAIRS AND

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GOVERNMENT" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

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     CHAPTER 64.15

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LONG-TERM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

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     42-64.15-1. Long-term Economic Development Vision and Policy. -- (a) No later than

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October 31, 2013 the Economic Development Corporation and the Division of Planning shall

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develop a written long-term economic development vision and policy for the state of Rhode

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Island and a strategic plan for implementing the policy. Such a plan shall include, but not be

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limited to:

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     (1) a unified economic development strategy for the state that integrates business growth

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with land use and transportation choices;

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     (2) an analysis of how the state's infrastructure can best support this unified economic

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development strategy;

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     (3) a focus and prioritization that the outcomes of the economic development strategy be

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equitable for all Rhode Islanders;

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     (4) reliance on comprehensive economic data and analysis relating to Rhode Island’s

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economic competitiveness, business climate, national and regional reputation, and present

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economic development resources;

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     (5) suggestions for improving and expanding the skills, abilities, and resources of state

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agencies, municipalities, and community partners to speed implementation of the plans'

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recommendations; and

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     (6) the inclusion of detailed implementation plans, including stated goals, specific

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performance measures and indicators.

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     (b) On or before October 31, 2014, the Economic Development Corporation and the

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Division of Planning shall submit the written long-term economic development vision and policy

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and implementation plan to the Governor, the Senate and the House of Representatives.

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     (c) Beginning January 1, 2015, and during the first year of each new or re-elected

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gubernatorial administration thereafter, the governor shall convene an economic development

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planning council consisting of no fewer than nineteen (19) members: one of whom shall be the

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director of the economic development corporation, who shall serve as chair; one of whom shall be

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the director of the department of administration, one of whom shall be the director of revenue;

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one of whom shall be the director of the department of labor and training; one of whom shall be

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the director of the department of environmental management; one of whom shall be the director

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of the department of transportation; one of whom shall be the director of the department of

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business regulation; one of whom shall be the commissioner of elementary and secondary

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education; one of whom shall be appointed by speaker of the house of representatives; one of

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whom shall be appointed by the president of the senate; and nine of whom shall be appointed by

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the governor: one of whom shall be the president of the University of Rhode Island, or the

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president of Rhode Island College, or the president of the Community College of Rhode Island,

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one of whom shall be a representative from the league of cities and towns, two of whom shall be

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a representative from a chamber of commerce, one of whom shall be from a non-profit

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organization representing a major industry sector in Rhode Island, one of whom shall represent a

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business with more than one hundred employees located in Rhode Island, one of whom shall

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represent a business with fewer than one hundred employees located in Rhode Island, one of

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whom shall be from a venture capital firm with a principal place of business in the Rhode Island,

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and one of whom shall represent a private sector labor union. Any department director appointed

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as a member of the council may appoint a designee from his or her respective agency to represent

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him/her on the council. Members of the council shall serve for a term of one year or until an

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economic development policy has been approved by the governor under this section.

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     (d) The economic development planning council shall develop a written long-term

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economic development vision and policy for the state and a strategic plan for implementing the

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policy. In developing the policy, the council shall review and consider the published economic

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development policy and implementation plan in effect at the commencement of the governor's

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term of office. The policy shall set long term goals and measurable benchmarks which are not

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limited to a particular gubernatorial administration and shall give consideration to any impacts the

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plan may have on businesses employing ten (10) or fewer people. The strategic plan shall include

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any major economic development initiatives and programs in effect at the time of the plan’s

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creation. In developing the policy the council may hold public hearings throughout the state.

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     (e) Once the policy and plan have been approved and adopted by the council, the council

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shall submit the policy and plan to the senate and house of representatives. The approved policy

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and plan shall be published in writing and on the official website of the state no later than

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December 31 of that year.

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     (f) The Economic Development Corporation shall be responsible for staffing the work of

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the Council and the division of planning shall also provide staff support. All departments

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represented on the council shall cooperate with the economic development corporation and the

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division of planning to facilitate the purposes of this chapter. 

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     (g) Subject to funding, the Council shall be able to hire consultants and related assistance

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to provide the type of analysis necessary to inform their work.

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     (h) All departments, offices, boards and agencies of the state shall cooperate with the

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economic development planning council and furnish such administrative and staff support,

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advice, information, documentary and otherwise, data and data analysis and other support as may

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be necessary or desirable.

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     (i) In carrying out the responsibility under this order, the Council may: (1) accept grant

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funds and in-kind contributions from governmental and private entities; (2) hold hearings; (3)

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invite experts and other witnesses to submit testimony; and (4) contract with experts and

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consultants as necessary to inform deliberations and recommendations.

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     (j) In addition to any other applicable law, rules or regulations, the economic

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development planning council shall be subject to the provisions of the Open Meetings Act, Title

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42, Chapter 46 of the Rhode Island General Laws and the Public Records Act, Title 38, Chapter 2

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of the Rhode Island General Laws.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC02051

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT - LONG-TERM ECONOMIC

DEVELOPMENT VISION AND POLICY

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     This act would establish a nineteen (19) member economic development planning council

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to develop a written long-term economic development vision and policy and strategic

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implementation plan. This act would also direct the economic development corporation and the

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division of planning to develop the initial written long-term economic development vision and

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policy and strategic implementation plan for submission to the governor, senate and house of

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representatives on or before October 31, 2014.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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