2014 -- H 7904 SUBSTITUTE A

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT - CLIMATE CHANGE -

RESILIENT RHODE ISLAND ACT OF 2014

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Handy, Ruggiero, Walsh, Keable, and Naughton

     Date Introduced: March 11, 2014

     Referred To: House Environment and Natural Resources

     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 6.2

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RESILIENT RHODE ISLAND ACT OF 2014

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     42-6.2-1. Creation -- Members. -- There is hereby established within the executive

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branch of state government a Rhode Island executive climate change coordinating council (the

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"council") comprised of officials from state agencies with responsibility and oversight relating to

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assessing, integrating and coordinating climate change efforts. The council shall include, but not

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be limited to, the following members: the director of the department of environmental

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management; the executive director of the coastal resources management council; the director of

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the department of administration; the director of the department of transportation; the director of

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the department of health; the executive director of the emergency management agency; the

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commissioner of the office of energy resources; the director of the division of planning; and the

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executive director of the Rhode Island commerce corporation.

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     42-6.2-2. Purpose of the council. -- (a) The council shall have the following duties:

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     (1) Assess, integrate, and coordinate climate change efforts throughout state agencies to

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reduce emissions, strengthen the resilience of communities, and prepare for the effects of climate

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change, including, but not limited to, coordinating vulnerability assessments throughout state

 

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government;

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     (2) No later than December 31, 2016, submit to the governor and general assembly a plan

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that includes strategies, programs and actions to meet targets for greenhouse gas emissions

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reductions as follows:

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     (i) Ten percent (10%) below 1990 levels by 2020;

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     (ii) Forty-five percent (45%) below 1990 levels by 2035;

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     (iii) Eighty percent (80%) below 1990 levels by 2050;

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     (iv) The plan shall also include procedures and metrics for periodic measurement, not less

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frequently than once every five (5) years, of progress necessary to meet these targets and for

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evaluating the possibility of meeting higher targets through cost-effective measures.

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     (3) Advance the state's understanding of the effects of climate change including, but not

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limited to, sea level rise, coastal and shoreline changes, severe weather events, critical

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infrastructure vulnerability, and ecosystem, economic, and health impacts;

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     (4) Identify strategies to prepare for these effects and communicate them to Rhode

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Islanders;

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     (5) Work with municipalities to support the development of sustainable and resilient

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communities;

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     (6) Identify and leverage federal, state, and private funding opportunities for emission

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reduction and climate change preparedness and adaption work in Rhode Island;

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     (7) Advise the governor, the general assembly, and the public on ways to ensure that

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Rhode Island continues to be a national leader in developing and implementing strategies that

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effectively address the challenges of climate change;

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     (8) Work with other New England states to explore areas of mutual interest to achieve

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common goals; and

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     (9) Identify and facilitate opportunities to educate the public about climate change and

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efforts throughout state agencies and municipalities to address climate change.

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     (b) The council is encouraged to utilize the expertise of Rhode Island universities and

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colleges in carrying out the duties described in subsection (a) of this section, specifically to

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ensure that the state's efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change are based on the best

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available scientific and technical information, and to optimize the contribution by the universities

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and colleges of their expertise and experience in research, analysis, modeling, mapping,

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applications to on-the-ground situations, technical assistance, community outreach, and public

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education.

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     42-6.2-3. Support for the council. -- To support the council's work, state agencies shall:

 

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     (1) Assist the council in implementing the provisions of this chapter;

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     (2) Develop short and long-term greenhouse gas emission reduction strategies and track

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the progress of these strategies;

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     (3) To the maximum extent feasible, purchase alternative fuel, hybrid, and electric

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vehicles that produce lower total emissions of greenhouse gases, and develop programs to

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encourage state employees to reduce their vehicle miles and use sustainable transportation

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alternatives, including public transit systems;

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     (4) Implement programs to achieve energy savings in state and municipal buildings to

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reduce greenhouse gases, reduce expenditures on energy, and stimulate economic and job

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development;

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     (5) Increase the deployment of in-state generation of renewable energy and energy

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efficiency;

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     (6) Support efforts to expand Rhode Island's green economy and develop green

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infrastructure;

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     (7) Assess the vulnerability of infrastructure, including, but not limited to, roads, bridges,

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dams, and wastewater and drinking water treatment facilities, to impacts of climate change and

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recommend strategies to protect these assets;

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     (8) Work with relevant academic institutions and federal agencies to assess the threats of

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sea level rise, erosion and storm surge, and communicate these assessments and threats, along

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with potential tools to address them, to state agencies and affected communities;

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     (9) Develop plans, policies, and solutions based on the latest science to ensure the state

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continues to have a vibrant coastal economy, including protection of critical infrastructure;

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     (10) Develop a climate and health profile report that documents the range of health

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impacts associated with climate change and identifies the most vulnerable populations;

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     (11) Encourages municipalities to incorporate climate change adaptation into local hazard

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mitigation plans and, when feasible, into hazard mitigation projects; and

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     (12) Take affirmative steps to eliminate and avoid duplication of effort through consistent

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coordination between agencies and programs, and pooling of resources, so as to make the most

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cost-efficient use of the state resources and provide the most effective services.

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     42-6.2-4. Advisory board established -- Members. -- (a) The Rhode Island executive

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climate change coordinating council advisory board is hereby established. The advisory board

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shall have thirteen (13) members. Five (5) members shall be appointed by the governor, four (4)

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of whom shall be representatives of city or town government, at least one of whom shall be from

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a city with a population of over fifty thousand (50,000) and one of whom shall be of a town with

 

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a population of less than fifty thousand (50,000), and one of whom shall be from an organization

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representing or serving low-income and/or minority communities.

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     Four (4) members shall be appointed by the president of the senate, who shall give due

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consideration to appointing persons with expertise in economic policy and/or workforce

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development, protection of natural and cultural resources management, energy planning and

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development, and engineering and design. Four (4) members shall be appointed by the speaker of

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the house, who shall give due consideration to appointing persons with expertise in education,

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public health and safety, housing, or from organizations representing or serving youth or the

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elderly.

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     (b) The members of the advisory board shall be appointed for terms of three (3) years;

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provided, however, that, with regard to the initial appointments, four (4) members shall be

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appointed for terms of one year; four (4) members shall be appointed for a term of two (2) years,

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and five (5) members shall be appointed for a term of three (3) years. Members may be

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reappointed, and their appointments shall continue until their successors are appointed. The term

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of a member representing a city or town shall end when the member no longer holds an elected or

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appointed position in the city or town he or she was representing. A vacancy other than by

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expiration shall be filled in the manner of the original appointment, but only for the unexpired

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portion of the term.

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     (c) The members of the advisory board shall receive no compensation.

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     (d) The governor shall appoint a chairperson; a vice-chairperson and secretary shall be

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elected annually by the advisory board members. All officers of the advisory board shall serve

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until their successors have been duly appointed or elected.

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     (e) The advisory board shall meet at least quarterly or at the call of the chairperson of the

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council. The chairperson of the council, or his or her designee, shall be present for all advisory

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board meetings.

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     (f) The advisory board shall have the following purposes and duties:

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     (1) Advise the council on all matters pertaining to the duties and powers of the council,

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including evaluating and making recommendations regarding plans, programs and strategies

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relating to climate change mitigation and adaptation

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     (2) Assist the council in improving public access to, and understanding of, the best

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available, scientific, technical and other information about climate change, mitigation, adaptation,

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etc., so as to build public support for, and participation in, initiatives to make communities more

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resilient

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     (3) Serve as a conduit for communicating information from the council to communities

 

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and constituencies, as well as vice versa, for input from the community level to the council

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     (4) Assist the council in meeting its own transparency and accountability obligations

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     (5) Report to the council at each regular council meeting;

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     (6) Prepare an annual report, to be included in the annual report of the council, that

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specifically addresses the state of public awareness and engagement, the effectiveness of

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mitigation, adaptation and public information programs from the community perspective, the

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ability of the council to attain its goals and objectives, including effective interagency

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coordination and public-private partnerships, and actions that would further the purposes of the

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council and this legislation.

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     42-6.2-5. Science and technical advisory board established – Members. – (a) The

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Rhode Island executive climate change council science and technical advisory board is hereby

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established. The science and technical advisory board shall have nine (9) members, appointed by

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the governor with the advice and consent of the senate. Four (4) members shall be from

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institutions of higher education in the state, two (2) shall be from research laboratories located in

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the state, and three (3) shall be from state agencies with expertise in, and responsibility for

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addressing issues pertaining to climate change.

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     (b) The members of the science and technical advisory board shall be appointed for terms

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of three (3) years; provided, however, that, with regard to the initial appointments, three (3)

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members shall be appointed for terms of one year; three (3) members shall be appointed for a

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term of two (2) years, and three (3) members shall be appointed for a term of three (3) years.

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Members may serve not more than three (3) successive terms, and their appointments shall

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continue until their successors are appointed. A vacancy other than by expiration shall be filled in

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the manner of the original appointment but only for the unexpired portion of the term.

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     (c) Members of the advisory board shall receive no compensation.

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     (d) The governor shall appoint a chairperson; a vice-chairperson and secretary shall be

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elected annually by the advisory board members. All officers of the advisory board shall serve

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until their successors have been duly appointed or elected.

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     (e) The advisory board shall meet at least quarterly or at the call of the chairperson of the

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council.

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     (f) The advisory board shall have the following purposes and duties:

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     (1) Keep the executive climate change council abreast of important developments in

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scientific and technical information relating to climate change and resiliency;

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     (2) Explore, and advise the council regarding opportunities to provide timely support for

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key policy and management decisions by aligning academic research around issues of climate

 

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change and resiliency;

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     (3) Inventory the scientific and technical work being done by public and private sector

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entities, and evaluate options to coordinate or integrate/consolidate such work in order to achieve

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greater efficiency, save resources, provide better services;

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     (4) Make recommendations and provide policy advice to the council regarding research

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needs and priorities, resource allocation, and funding opportunities;

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     (5) Assist the council in communicating scientific and technical information to key user

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groups and the general public; and

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     (6) Prepare an annual report, to be included in the annual report of the council, evaluating

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to what extent the state's policies and programs aimed at mitigating and adapting to climate

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change are supported by the best available science and technical information.

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     42-6.2-6. Open government requirements. -- The council and advisory board shall be

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subject to the provisions of chapter 46 of title 42, the open meetings act, and chapter 2 of title 38,

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the access to public records act. Any rules and regulations or any amendments to rules and

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regulations to carry out the requirements of this chapter shall be adopted in accordance with the

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provisions of chapter 35 of title 42, the administrative procedures act.

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     42-6.2-7. Reporting. -- No later than May 1, 2015, and annually thereafter, the council

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shall issue a report of its findings, recommendations, and progress on achieving the purposes of

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this chapter.

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     42-6.2-8. Powers and duties of state agencies – Exercise of existing authority. --

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Consideration of the impacts of climate change shall be deemed to be within the powers and

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duties of all state departments. agencies, commissions, councils and instrumentalities, including

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quasi-public agencies, and each shall be deemed to have and to exercise among its purposes in the

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exercise of its existing authority, the purposes set forth in this chapter pertaining to climate

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change mitigation, adaption and resilience in so far as climate change affects the mission, duties,

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responsibilities, projects or programs of the entity.

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     SECTION 2. 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 repealed.

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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 commission known as "The Rhode Island Climate Change

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Commission" consisting of twenty-nine (29) members as follows: three (3) of whom shall be

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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not limited to, a doctor or nurse, to be appointed by the speaker of the house; and one of whom

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

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administration, or his or her designee, who shall serve as the chair.

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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) Vacancies shall be filled in like manner as the original appointment. The membership

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of the commission shall receive no compensation for their services. All departments and agencies

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of the state shall furnish such advice and information, documentary and otherwise, to the

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commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or desirable by the commission to facilitate the

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purposes of this chapter. The joint committee on legislative services is hereby authorized and

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directed to provide suitable quarters for the commission.

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      (e) 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, and every March 1 thereafter.

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     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT - CLIMATE CHANGE -

RESILIENT RHODE ISLAND ACT OF 2014

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     This act would repeal the Rhode Island climate change commission and would create a

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climate change coordinating council advisory board and science and technical advisory board, to

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advise the executive departments on the impacts of climate change.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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