2017 -- H 6264

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LC002744

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY - PESTICIDE RELIEF FUND

     Introduced By: Representative Arthur Handy

     Date Introduced: May 26, 2017

     Referred To: House Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 23-25.2-5 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-25.2 entitled

"Pesticide Relief Fund" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     23-25.2-5. Pesticide relief.

     (a) All pesticide registration fees paid pursuant to § 23-25-6(f) and recoveries on

subrogated claims pursuant to § 23-25.2-7 shall be deposited as general revenues.

     (b) The sum of five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) from the pesticide registration

fees paid shall be appropriated annually to the department of environmental management for

staff, programs and administrative costs related to pollinator habitat, health and integrated pest

management. All money appropriated for pesticide relief is specifically appropriated to the

director for the following purposes:

     (1) To provide emergency response activities related to the contamination of land, water,

and buildings. Appropriate uses for funds granted under this subdivision shall include testing and

monitoring of domestic water supply sources and the purchase of the following supplies and

services: carbon filters or other such devices for wells, bottled water, alternate water supplies, or

other suitable and cost effective measures to remedy or ameliorate the effects of pesticide

contamination.

     (2) To monitor the environment including but not limited to the collection of analysis of

soil, water, crops, livestock, and wildlife samples. The monitoring and analysis shall be in

addition to any provided for by regular appropriations of the state or federal grants made for that

purpose;

     (3) To make grants to municipalities for up to, but not more than, one-third (1/3) of the

direct costs incurred in extending public water systems to areas experiencing multiple

contaminated domestic water supply. Grants made to municipalities under this subdivision may

not be used, either alone or in conjunction with other funds, beyond the area necessary to rectify

an established multiple contaminated domestic water supply;

     (4) To make grants for IPM research and educational projects. Appropriate grants under

this subdivision shall include but not be limited to the following: research grants to Rhode Island

institutions of higher learning for IPM research projects in both agricultural and urban pest

control; education grants to Rhode Island environmental organizations, Rhode Island institutions

of higher learning, and departments or agencies of state government to promote the concept of

IPM; program grants to departments or agencies of both state and local government for IPM

programs in such areas as mosquito abatement, gypsy moth control, and urban pest management

in publicly owned buildings; program grants to private firms and organizations for IPM programs

in privately owned buildings that are open to the general public, such as hospitals, museums,

malls, and schools; and program grants to farmers for IPM programs on their farms; and

     (5) For payment of ancillary services, personnel, and equipment incurred in order to carry

out the purposes of this chapter.

     (c) Thirty-five percent (35%) of appropriations shall be reserved for grants under

subsection (b)(4) of this section. No award of relief to any one household under subsection (b)(1)

shall exceed ten thousand dollars ($10,000). No grant to any municipality under subsection (b)(3)

shall exceed twenty-five percent (25%) of the amount available in the portion of the fund

reserved for these grants at the time the grant is awarded. No grant under subsection (b)(4) shall

exceed twenty-five percent (25%) of the amount available in the portion of the fund reserved for

these grants at the time the grant is awarded.

     (d) The director is empowered, with the approval of the governor, to apply for and

receive grants, appropriations, gifts, bequests, donations, or other funds from any public or

private source that are intended to provided either emergency relief for pesticide contamination or

financial support for IPM projects.

     (e) Any recovery on a subrogated claim pursuant to § 23-25.2-7 shall be deposited as

general revenues.

     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 HEALTH AND SAFETY - PESTICIDE RELIEF FUND

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     This act would set aside five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) from the pesticide

relief fund for DEM, staff, programs, and administrative costs associated with pollinator habitats,

health and integrated pest management.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC002744

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