2019 -- S 0404

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LC001972

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY THE EFFECT AND

PROCEDURES FOR THE REORGANIZATION OF THE RHODE ISLAND COASTAL

RESOURCES MANAGEMENT COUNCIL (CRMC)

     Introduced By: Senators Sosnowski, McCaffrey, Conley, DiPalma, and Euer

     Date Introduced: February 27, 2019

     Referred To: Senate Environment & Agriculture

     WHEREAS, The Coastal Resources Management Council is a management agency with

regulatory functions "whose primary responsibility is for the preservation, protection,

development and where possible the restoration of the coastal areas of the state, which extends

out to the extent of the state's jurisdiction in the territorial sea, via the authority given in state law

and through implementation of its integrated and comprehensive coastal management plans "; and

     WHEREAS, A reorganization of the CRMC and its operations and management

procedures could provide increased efficiencies, opportunities and protection of our coastal

resources; now, therefore be it

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

consisting of fifteen (15) members: three (3) of whom shall be members of the House, not more

than two (2) from the same political party, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; three (3)

of whom shall be members of the Senate, not more than two (2) from the same political party, to

be appointed by the President of the Senate; one of whom shall be the Executive Director of Save

the Bay, or designee; one of whom shall be the Town Manager of South Kingstown, or designee;

one of whom shall be the Chair of the Warwick Planning Board, or designee; one of whom shall

be the City Manager of the City of Newport, or designee; one of whom shall be the President of

the R.I. Shellfisherman's Association, or designee; two (2) of whom shall be commercial

fishermen, one to be appointed by the Speaker of the House, and one to be appointed by the

President of the Senate; one of whom shall be of the Dean of the University of Rhode Island

Graduate School of Oceanography, or designee; and one of whom shall be the Dean of the Roger

Williams University Department of Biology, Marine Biology, and Environmental Science, or

designee.

     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 appointment of the member of the general public.

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

recommendations for, the reorganization of the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management

Council.

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

the call of the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House and organize. The President

of the Senate and the Speaker of the House shall each select one member to serve as co-

chairpersons of the commission.

     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 Joint Committee on Legislative Services 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 results to the General

Assembly on or before January 2, 2020, and said commission shall expire on April 2, 2020.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY THE EFFECT AND

PROCEDURES FOR THE REORGANIZATION OF THE RHODE ISLAND COASTAL

RESOURCES MANAGEMENT COUNCIL (CRMC)

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     This resolution would create a fifteen (15) member special legislative commission whose

purpose it would be to make a comprehensive study of, and provide recommendations for, the

reorganization of the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council, and who would

report back to the General Assembly on or before January 2, 2020, and said commission would

expire on April 2, 2020.

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