2015 -- S 0703 AS AMENDED

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LC001730

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO FISH AND WILDLIFE -- SEAFOOD MARKETING

     

     Introduced By: Senators Sosnowski, Conley, and Goldin

     Date Introduced: March 18, 2015

     Referred To: Senate Environment & Agriculture

     (Enviromental Management)

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Sections 20-38-2, 20-38-3 and 20-38-4 of the General Laws in Chapter 20-

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38 entitled "The Rhode Island Seafood Marketing Collaborative of 2011" are hereby amended to

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read as follows:

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     20-38-2. Legislative findings. -- The general assembly hereby finds that there are

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currently insufficient resources and information necessary to support Rhode Island's local

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fishermen and aquaculturists and related small businesses and to ensure the best possible

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economic and environmental outcomes for the creation of more locally produced sustainable food

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systems, that in particular includes seafood, in the State of Rhode Island.

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     20-38-3. Definitions. -- When used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the

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following meanings:

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      (1) "Collaborative" means the Rhode Island seafood marketing collaborative established

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under ยง 20-38-4;

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      (2) "Rhode Island's local fishermen and aquaculturists" means commercial fishermen

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and aquaculturists licensed in the State of Rhode Island.

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      (3) "State agencies" means state entities responsible for the implementation of Rhode

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Island's fishery management and economic development, including, but not be limited to:

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      (i) The department of environmental management, which shall include:

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      (A) The division of agricultural and resource management, agriculture; and

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      (B) The division of fish and wildlife marine program;

 

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      (ii) The economic development commerce corporation;

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      (iii) The coastal resources management council;

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      (iv) The department of health;

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      (v) The department of administration.

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      (4) "Aquaculture" means the farming of aquatic organisms such as fish, crustaceans,

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mollusks and aquatic plants.

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      (5) "Sustainable food system" means one in which resources (including natural resources

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such as soil and water, as well as human resources such as labor) are used at or below their rate of

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recovery.

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      (6) "Seafood dealers" means any person engaged in purchasing, raising, propagating,

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breeding, or acquiring or possessing live fish or fish eggs to be sold or furnished to others for the

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purpose of resale licensed in the State of Rhode Island.

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      (7) "Locally landed" means legally produced species of fish or aquaculture caught by a

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vessel landing and licensed to fish in the State of Rhode Island.

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     20-38-4. Collaborative established. -- (a) There is hereby created an interagency a

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collaborative known as "The Rhode Island Seafood Marketing Collaborative" consisting of nine

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(9) nineteen (19) members as follows:

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      (1) The director of the department of environmental management or his or her designee,

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who shall serve as chairperson;

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      (2) The executive director of the economic development commerce corporation, or his or

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her designee;

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      (3) The chief of the division of fish and wildlife in marine management of the

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department of environmental management, or his or her designee;

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      (4) The director of the department of health, or his or her designee;

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      (5) The chief of the division of agricultural management agriculture of the department of

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environmental management, or his or her designee;

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      (6) The executive director of the coastal resources management council, or his or her

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designee;

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      (7) The director of administration, or his or her designee;

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      (8) The dean of the University of Rhode Island department college of environment and

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life sciences, or his or her designee; and

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      (9) One representative of higher education to be appointed by the senate president.

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     (9) The director of the Rhode Island sea grant program, or his or her designee; and

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     (10) Ten (10) additional members, each of whom shall be appointed by the director of the

 

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department of environmental management, in accordance with the following categories:

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     (i) Two (2) Rhode Island-based dealers/wholesalers/processors who purchase and sell

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finfish, shellfish, and/or crustaceans;

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     (ii) Two (2) commercial aquaculturists;

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     (iii) A Rhode Island-based retailer of seafood products associated with a restaurant or

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restaurant organization;

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     (iv) A Rhode Island-based retailer of seafood products associated with an independent or

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franchised store;

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     (v) Two (2) commercial fishermen licensed to harvest and/or land in Rhode Island;

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     (vi) A member of an independent organization or association representing the Rhode

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Island hospitality industry;

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     (vii) An economist with expertise in seafood marketing.

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      (b) Forthwith upon the passage of this chapter, the members of the collaborative shall

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meet at the call of the chairperson and organize. Thereafter, the collaborative shall meet quarterly

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and at the call of the chairperson or three (3) members of the collaborative.

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

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documentation, and otherwise to the collaborative and its agents as is deemed necessary or

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desirable by the collaborative to facilitate the purposes of this chapter.

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      (d) The members of the collaborative shall receive no compensation for their services.

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     SECTION 2. Section 20-38-6 of the General Laws in Chapter 20-38 entitled "The Rhode

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Island Seafood Marketing Collaborative of 2011" is hereby repealed.

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     20-38-6. Advisory council. -- (a) The Rhode Island seafood marketing collaborative

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advisory council is hereby established. The advisory council shall consist of ten (10) members

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each of whom shall be appointed by the director of the department of environmental

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management:

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      (1) A fish dealer/wholesaler/processor or representative;

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      (2) A shellfish dealer or processor of lobster and crab;

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      (3) A shellfish dealer or processor of clams, etc;

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      (4) A aquaculture dealer or processor;

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      (5) A retailer of seafood product representing a restaurant organization;

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      (6) A seafood retailer representing an independent or franchised store;

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      (7) A shellfish harvester;

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      (8) A fisheries manager specialist;

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      (9) A marine scientist;

 

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      (10) An independent organization or association representing the hospitality industry.

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      (b) Advisory council members shall serve two (2) year terms and are eligible to succeed

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themselves. In the event a member is unable to complete his or her term, the director of the

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department of environmental management shall appoint a successor, and the successor appointed

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to the vacancy shall serve for the remainder of the unexpired term. The members of the board

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shall receive no compensation.

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      (c) The advisory council shall elect annually a chairperson from among its members.

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      (d) The advisory council shall meet at least quarterly at the call of the chairperson or

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three (3) council members. The chairperson of the Rhode Island seafood marketing collaborative,

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or designee from among the members of the collaborative, shall be present for all advisory

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council meetings.

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      (e) The advisory council shall advise the collaborative on all matters pertaining to the

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collaborative duties and powers.

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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 FISH AND WILDLIFE -- SEAFOOD MARKETING

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     This act would add aquaculturist membership and representation to the seafood

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marketing collaborative of 2011.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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