2023 -- H 5479

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LC001365

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $15,200,000 TO BE USED TO PURCHASE PFAS-FREE

FIREFIGHTING GEAR

     Introduced By: Representatives Speakman, Cortvriend, Casimiro, Casey, Hull, Fogarty,
Nardone, Noret, Dawson, and Finkelman

     Date Introduced: February 08, 2023

     Referred To: House Finance

     WHEREAS, Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly referred to as

PFAS, are manmade chemicals found in a wide range of products, including, but not limited to,

adult mattresses, air care products, clothing, cleaning products, cookware, cosmetics, and many,

many more; and

     WHEREAS, Increasingly, research shows that long-term exposure to products containing

PFAS creates heightened and increased health and safety risks to persons who are so exposed;

and

     WHEREAS, By the nature of their work and the extent to which PFAS are found in more

and more items commonly found in private households and businesses, firefighters and rescue

personnel are particularly exposed to heightened amounts of PFAS in performing their duties as

firefighters and rescue personnel; and

     WHEREAS, A significant percentage of current, in-use firefighter and rescue personnel

protective gear includes PFAS substances, and that exposure to PFAS substances is increased

when the materials containing PFAS are exposed to high temperatures, which firefighters and

rescue personnel face on daily basis; and

     WHEREAS, There now exists recently-developed firefighter and rescue personnel

protective gear which is PFAS free, and the use of which, while not completely eliminating the

inherent possibility of exposure, would dramatically reduce the amount of exposure to PFAS

substances which firefighters and rescue personnel face regularly; and

     WHEREAS, That the sum of fifteen million, two hundred thousand dollars ($15,200,000)

would enable the purchase of PFAS free personnel protective gear for approximately two

thousand, four hundred (2,400) professional firefighters and one thousand, four hundred (1,400)

volunteer firefighters, across the state; now therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That there is hereby appropriated, out of any money in the treasury not

otherwise appropriated for fiscal year 2023-2024, the sum of fifteen million, two hundred dollars

($15,200,000) for those cities and towns in the State of Rhode Island to purchase firefighter and

rescue personnel protective gear which is PFAS free; and the state controller is hereby authorized

and directed to draw his orders upon the general treasurer for the payment of said sum, or so

much thereof as maybe from time to time be required, upon receipt of properly authenticated

vouchers.

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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

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $15,200,000 TO BE USED TO PURCHASE PFAS-FREE

FIREFIGHTING GEAR

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     This joint resolution would authorize the appropriation of the sum of fifteen million, two

hundred thousand dollars ($15,200,000) to cities and towns to purchase firefighter and rescue

personnel protective gear which is PFAS free.

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LC001365

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