2020 -- S 2757

========

LC003457

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2020

____________

J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY PUBLIC ACCESS TO

RHODE ISLAND'S SHORELINE

     Introduced By: Senators Algiere, and Sosnowski

     Date Introduced: March 04, 2020

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     (by request)

     WHEREAS, For many years, private beach owners and advocates for shoreline access

have had difficulty with the ambiguity relating to the definitions, tide line measurements, and

actual public shoreline access allowed because of shifting beaches, erosion and rising sea levels;

and

     WHEREAS, State and Federal statutes mandate the Rhode Island Coastal Resources

Management Council with the responsibility "to ensure that public access to the shore is

protected, maintained, and, where possible, enhanced for the benefit of all"; now, therefore be it

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

consisting of nine (9) members: 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; 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; one of whom shall be the Executive Director of the Rhode Island

Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC), or designee; one of whom shall be a

beachfront property owner, to be appointed by the President of the Senate; and one of whom shall

be an a member of the Rhode Island Shoreline Access Coalition, to be appointed by the Speaker

of the House.

     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.

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

recommendations to update regulations and definitions relating to public access to Rhode Island's

shoreline.

     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 February 9, 2021, and said commission shall expire on April 9, 2021.

========

LC003457

========

LC003457 - Page 2 of 3

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 PUBLIC ACCESS TO

RHODE ISLAND'S SHORELINE

***

     This resolution would create a nine (9) member special legislative commission whose

purpose it would be to make a comprehensive study and provide recommendations to update

regulations and definitions relating to public access to Rhode Island's shoreline, and who would

report back to the General Assembly no later than February 9, 2021, and whose life would expire

on April 9, 2021

========

LC003457

========

LC003457 - Page 3 of 3