2017 -- H 6051 SUBSTITUTE A

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

____________

H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT - ENERGY FACILITIES SITING

ACT

     Introduced By: Representatives Keable, Newberry, McKiernan, Regunberg, and Handy

     Date Introduced: March 31, 2017

     Referred To: House Finance

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

consisting of fourteen (14) members: three (3) of whom shall be members of the Rhode Island

House of Representatives, not more than two (2) from the same political party, to be appointed by

the Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be the President of the Burrillville Town Council, or

designee; one of whom shall be a member of a Rhode Island Land Trust, to be appointed by the

Speaker; one of whom shall be the President of the Rhode Island Building & Construction Trades

Council, or designee; one of whom shall be the President of the Conservation Law Foundation

(CLF), or designee; one of whom shall be the Chair of the Rhode Island Public Utilities

Commission (RIPUC), or designee; one of whom shall be the Director of Department of

Environmental Management (DEM), or designee; one of whom shall be a member of The Energy

Council of Rhode Island (TEC-RI), to be appointed by the Speaker; one of whom shall be a

member of the Rhode Island Division of Planning, to be appointed by the Director of the Rhode

Island Department of Administration; one of whom shall be the President of the Rhode Island

League of Cities and Towns, or designee; and two (2) of whom shall be members of the public, to

be appointed by the Speaker.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Facility Siting Act and provide recommendations for improving and updating the act including,

but not limited to:

     • Reviewing similar enactments in Massachusetts and Connecticut for best practices;

and

     • Gathering input from relevant stakeholders in order to ensure the best public policy

and outcome for coordinating, planning, and expediting decisions.

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

the call of the Speaker of the House and organize and shall select a chairperson from among the

legislators.

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

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

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

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

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

     The Speaker of the House is hereby authorized and directed to provide suitable quarters

for said commission; and be it further

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

House of Representatives no later than January 31, 2018, and said commission shall expire on

June 2, 2018.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT - ENERGY FACILITIES SITING

ACT

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     This resolution would create a fourteen (14) member special legislative study

commission whose purpose it would be to make a comprehensive study and review of the Energy

Facility Siting Act, and who would report back to the House of Representatives no later than

January 31, 2018, and whose life would expire on June 2, 2018.

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