2019 -- S 0194 SUBSTITUTE A

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY AND EVALUATE

RHODE ISLAND'S ELECTRIC AND NATURAL GAS TRANSMISSION AND

DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM INFRASTRUCTURE

     

     Introduced By: Senators DiPalma, Euer, Seveney, Felag, and Murray

     Date Introduced: January 31, 2019

     Referred To: Senate Commerce

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     WHEREAS, All Rhode Islanders depend on and deserve a safe and reliable electrical

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power and natural gas transmission and distribution infrastructure system to meet the demands of

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today and the expected demands of tomorrow; and

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     WHEREAS, A dependable electric and natural gas transmission and distribution

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infrastructure system is critical to homeowners as well as businesses; and

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     WHEREAS, It is imperative that Rhode Island plans for the needs of today and

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tomorrow. To that end, a reliable and resilient electric and natural gas transmission and

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distribution infrastructure system is paramount; now, therefore be it

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

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consisting of nineteen (19) members: three (3) of whom shall be members of the Senate, not more

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than two (2) from the same political party, to be appointed by the President of the Senate; one of

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whom shall be the Administrator of the RI Division of Public Utilities and Carriers, or designee;

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one of whom shall be the Chief Resiliency Officer of the RI Infrastructure Bank, or designee; one

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of whom shall be the RI Cybersecurity Officer, or designee; one of whom shall be the Executive

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Director of RI League of Cities and Towns, or designee; one of whom shall be the President of

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National Grid RI, or designee; one of whom shall be the General Manager of Providence Water,

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or designee; one of whom shall be the Executive Director of the Narragansett Bay Commission,

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or designee; one of whom shall be the President of Enbridge Gas, or designee; one of whom shall

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be the President of the Block Island Power Company, or designee; one of whom shall be the

 

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General Manager of the Pascoag Utility District, or designee; one of whom shall be the President

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of Rhode Island AARP, or designee; one of whom shall be the Director of RI Department of

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Environmental Management, or designee; four (4) of whom shall be members of the public, all of

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whom shall be appointed by the President of the Senate.

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

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

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

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

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

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     The purpose of said commission shall be to make a comprehensive study and evaluate

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Rhode Island’s electric and natural gas transmission and distribution system infrastructure.

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

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the call of the President of the Senate and organize and shall select a chairperson from among the

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legislators.

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

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

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

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

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

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     The Joint Committee on Legislative Services is hereby authorized and directed to provide

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suitable quarters for said commission; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That the commission shall report its findings and results to the Senate on or

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before March 1, 2020, and said commission shall expire on June 30, 2020.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY AND EVALUATE

RHODE ISLAND'S ELECTRIC AND NATURAL GAS TRANSMISSION AND

DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM INFRASTRUCTURE

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     This resolution would create a nineteen (19) member special legislative commission

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whose purpose it would be to make a comprehensive study and evaluate Rhode Island's electric

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and natural gas transmission and distribution system infrastructure, and who would report back to

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the Senate on or before March 1, 2020, and said commission would expire on June 30, 2020.

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