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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- 2021 ACT ON CLIMATE

     Introduced By: Representatives Carson, Alzate, Bennett, Solomon, Cortvriend, Ranglin-
Vassell, Giraldo, Abney, Donovan, and Speakman

     Date Introduced: March 02, 2022

     Referred To: House Environment and Natural Resources

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 42-6.2-4 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-6.2 entitled "2021 Act

on Climate" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     42-6.2-4. Advisory board established -- Members.

     (a) The Rhode Island executive climate change coordinating council advisory board is

hereby established. The advisory board shall have thirteen (13) fourteen (14) members. Five (5)

Six (6) members shall be appointed by the governor, four (4) of whom shall be representatives of

city or town government, at least one of whom shall be from a city with a population of over fifty

thousand (50,000); and one of whom shall be of a town with a population of less than fifty thousand

(50,000), and one of whom shall be from an organization representing or serving low-income

and/or minority communities, and one member of the public with expertise in, and representing the

interests of, environmental justice.

     Four (4) members shall be appointed by the president of the senate, who shall give due

consideration to appointing persons with expertise in economic policy and/or workforce

development; protection of natural and cultural resources management; energy planning and

development; and engineering and design. Four (4) members shall be appointed by the speaker of

the house, who shall give due consideration to appointing persons with expertise in education;

public health and safety; housing; or from organizations representing or serving youth or the

elderly.

     (b) The members of the advisory board shall be appointed for terms of three (3) years;

provided, however, that, with regard to the initial appointments, four (4) members shall be

appointed for terms of one year; four (4) five (5) members shall be appointed for a term of two (2)

years; and five (5) members shall be appointed for a term of three (3) years. Members may be

reappointed, and their appointments shall continue until their successors are appointed. The term

of a member representing a city or town shall end when the member no longer holds an elected or

appointed position in the city or town he or she was representing. A vacancy other than by

expiration shall be filled in the manner of the original appointment, but only for the unexpired

portion of the term.

     (c) The members of the advisory board shall receive no compensation.

     (d) The governor shall appoint a chairperson; a vice-chairperson and secretary shall be

elected annually by the advisory board members. All officers of the advisory board shall serve until

their successors have been duly appointed or elected.

     (e) The advisory board shall meet at least quarterly or at the call of the chairperson of the

council. The chairperson of the council, or his or her designee, shall be present for all advisory

board meetings.

     (f) The advisory board shall have the following purposes and duties:

     (1) Advise the council on all matters pertaining to the duties and powers of the council,

including evaluating and making recommendations regarding plans, programs, and strategies

relating to climate change mitigation and adaptation;

     (2) Assist the council in improving public access to, and understanding of, the best

available scientific, technical, and other information about climate change, mitigation, adaptation,

etc., so as to build public support for, and participation in, initiatives to make communities more

resilient;

     (3) Serve as a conduit for communicating information from the council to communities and

constituencies, as well as vice versa, for input from the community level to the council;

     (4) Assist the council in meeting its own transparency and accountability obligations;

     (5) Report to the council at each regular council meeting; and

     (6) Prepare an annual report, to be included in the annual report of the council, that

specifically addresses the state of public awareness and engagement; the effectiveness of

mitigation, adaptation and public information programs from the community perspective; the

ability of the council to attain its goals and objectives, including effective interagency coordination

and public-private partnerships; and actions that would further the purposes of the council and this

legislation.

     (g) For purposes of this section, "environmental justice" means the fair treatment and

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meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, English proficiency

or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental

laws, regulations and policies.

     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 STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- 2021 ACT ON CLIMATE

***

     This act would provide for the appointment by the governor of an additional member to

the climate change coordinating council advisory board. The appointment would consist of a

member of the public with expertise in environmental justice.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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