2019 -- S 0758

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LC002068

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO WATERS AND NAVIGATION -- COASTAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT

COUNCIL

     

     Introduced By: Senators Coyne, Seveney, DiPalma, Euer, and Sosnowski

     Date Introduced: April 04, 2019

     Referred To: Senate Environment & Agriculture

     (Dept. Environmental Management)

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 46-23-13 of the General Laws in Chapter 46-23 entitled "Coastal

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Resources Management Council" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     46-23-13. Application and hearing fees.

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     The council shall be authorized to establish reasonable fees for applications and hearings.

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All fees collected by the council, including fees collected for leases, shall be deposited as general

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revenues. The state controller is hereby authorized and directed to draw his or her orders upon the

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general treasurer for payment of such sum or sums as may be necessary from time to time and

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upon receipt by him or her of duly authenticated vouchers presented by the commissioner of

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coastal resources management.

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     Effective June 30, 2019, the council in consultation with the department of environmental

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management and office of energy resources shall promulgate rules and regulations and develop

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an offshore wind application and associated fee for any offshore wind projects that require access

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to state waters for developing and operating offshore wind systems. The offshore wind fee

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adopted by the council shall be distributed with the council receiving forty-five percent (45%);

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the department of environmental management receiving forty-five percent (45%); and the office

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of energy resources receiving ten percent (10%). The funds shall be used by the respective state

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agencies for administrative and programmatic efforts relating to fisheries, seafood and

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agriculture, climate change and renewable energy efforts. The funds collected shall be exempt

 

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from the indirect cost recovery provisions of ยง 35-4-27.

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     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 WATERS AND NAVIGATION -- COASTAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT

COUNCIL

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     This act would provide funding to the Rhode Island department of environmental

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management, Rhode Island office of energy resources and the Rhode Island coastal resource

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management council from any offshore land lease fees associated with offshore wind systems that

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access state waters.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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