2022 -- H 8296

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LC006051

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

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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 AND MAKE

RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING RHODE ISLAND’S OLD GROWTH FORESTS

     Introduced By: Representatives Bennett, Kislak, Cortvriend, Donovan, Craven,
Kazarian, Casimiro, Handy, Noret, and Ajello

     Date Introduced: May 27, 2022

     Referred To: House Environment and Natural Resources

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

consisting of eleven (11) members: one of whom shall be a member of the Senate, appointed by

the President of the Senate; one of whom shall be a member of the House, appointed by the

Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be the Director of the Department of Environmental

Management, or designee; one of whom shall be the Director of the Rhode Island Old Growth

Tree Society, or designee; one of whom shall be the Executive Director of the Rhode Island

Natural History Survey, or designee; one of whom shall be the State Director of The Nature

Conservancy in Rhode Island, or designee; one of whom shall be the Executive Director of the

Audubon Society of Rhode Island, or designee; one of whom shall be the Executive Director of

the Rhode Island Land Trust Council, or designee; one of whom shall be a certified arborist, to be

appointed by the Urban and Community Forestry Coordinator; and two (2) of whom shall be

members of local land trusts, one of whom shall be appointed by the President of the Senate, and

one of whom shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House.

     In lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to 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 review of

Rhode Island’s old growth forests and provide recommendations for the preservation and

protection of these natural habitats. The study shall include, but not be limited to:

     • Identify and map the locations of Rhode Island’s old growth forests, rare forest

ecosystems, and if possible, areas of most environmentally sensitive land and/or water worthy of

preservation in its natural condition;

     • Formulate advisory policies and plans to protect the state’s old growth forests, rare

forest ecosystems, and areas of most environmentally sensitive land;

     • Provide advisory policies, plans, and recommendations related to the preservation and

protection of the state’s old growth forests; and

     • Surveying forests scheduled for forestry operations on state and municipally owned

land that includes timber harvesting, cutting, girdling, burning, or any alterations to the forest

before the forestry operation takes place to determine if there are any old growth forests in the

area that could be threatened by the forestry operation. If an old growth forest is found, the

commission may make advisory policies, plans, or recommendations for the old growth forest to

be protected and not disturbed by the forestry operation; and

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

the call of the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House, and shall organize and select a

chairperson or co-chairpersons from among the members.

     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 recommendations to the

Senate and House on or before August 18, 2023, and said commission shall expire on December

31, 2023.

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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 AND MAKE

RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING RHODE ISLAND’S OLD GROWTH FORESTS

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     Creates an 11 member commission whose purpose would be to study and make

recommendations regarding RI's old growth forests, and who would report back to the House and

Senate by August 18, 2023, and would expire on December 31, 2023.

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LC006051

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