2014 -- S 2686

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LC004565

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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 - THE RHODE ISLAND ENERGY

EFFICIENCY AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COUNCIL

     Introduced By: Senators Miller, and Sosnowski

     Date Introduced: March 05, 2014

     Referred To: Senate Environment & Agriculture

     (Administration)

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 42-140.1-4 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-140.1 entitled "The

Rhode Island Energy Efficiency and Resource Management Council" is hereby amended to read

as follows:

     42-140.1-4. Composition and appointment. -- (a) The council shall consist of eleven

(11) thirteen (13) members appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate;

seven (7) nine (9) members shall be voting numbers members, and the governor shall give due

consideration to appointing persons with knowledge of: (1) energy regulation and law; (2) large

commercial/industrial users,; (3) small commercial/industrial users; (4) residential users; (5) low-

income users; (6) environmental issues pertaining to energy; (7) energy design and codes; and

(8) energy efficiency education and employment tracking; and (9) municipal energy users. four

Four (4) members shall be ex-officio, non-voting members, representing an electric distribution

entity, a gas distribution entity, fuel oil or heating fuel industry, and the commissioner of the

office of energy resources. From the seven (7) nine (9) voting members, the governor shall

appoint one person to be chairperson of the council and one person to be vice chairperson of the

council; the commissioner of the office of energy resources shall be the executive secretary and

executive director of the council.

      (b) With the exception of the commissioner of the office of energy resources; of the

initial appointments; three (3) members shall be appointed for a term of three (3) years, three (3)

members shall be appointed for a term of four (4) years, and four (4) members shall be appointed

for a term of five (5) years; thereafter members of the council shall be appointed for a term of five

(5) years and may be reappointed.

      (c) A simple majority of the total number of voting members shall constitute a quorum.

      (d) A vacancy other than by expiration shall be filled in the manner of the original

appointment but only for the unexpired portion of the term. The appointing authority shall have

the power to remove its appointee for just cause.

      (e) The members of the council shall not be compensated for their service but shall be

reimbursed for their actual expenses necessarily incurred in the performance of their duties. The

provisions of this subdivision shall not apply to the executive secretary/executive director.

     SECTION 2. 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 - THE RHODE ISLAND ENERGY

EFFICIENCY AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COUNCIL

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     This act would change the composition of the Rhode Island energy efficiency and

resource management council. The council would consist of thirteen (13) members rather than

eleven (11) members who would be appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the

senate and nine (9) members instead of seven (7) who would be voting members.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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