2023 -- H 5549

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- ZERO-EMISSION LAWN CARE DEVICES

     Introduced By: Representatives Kislak, and Ajello

     Date Introduced: February 15, 2023

     Referred To: House Environment and Natural Resources

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Title 23 of the General Laws entitled "HEALTH AND SAFETY" is hereby

amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

CHAPTER 99

ZERO-EMISSION LAWN CARE DEVICES

     23-99-1. Short title.

     This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Zero-Emission Lawn Care Devices

Act."

     23-99-2. Zero-emissions lawn care devices.

     For purposes of this chapter, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

     (1) "Lawn care device" means any device powered mechanically, which is intended to be

used or is actually used for mowing grass, cutting or chipping trees, tree roots or tree branches, or

clearing leaves or other vegetation from lawns, sidewalks, public streets or public highways and

shall include, but not be limited to, such devices as lawn mowers and lawn mower attachments,

lawn edgers, leaf blowers, leaf vacuums, mulchers and chippers.

     (2) “Emissions” means exhaust from the combustion of hydrocarbon fuels.

     23-99-3. Rules and regulations.

     The director of the department of environmental management shall promulgate rules and

regulations which shall require that all lawn care devices sold by January 1, 2025, or used in the

state by January 1, 2028, shall have zero-emissions. These rules and regulations shall take into

account issues of affordability, accessibility and environmental equity, and shall include a plan to

collect data from retail businesses and lawn care businesses so that the department may report to

the general assembly on the status of lawn care device use and the transition to one hundred percent

(100%) zero-emission lawn care devices in Rhode Island.

     23-99-4. Rebate program.

     The office of energy resources shall develop a rebate program for the purchase of zero-

emission lawn care devices, which may include or require a “trade-in” of a gas powered device,

and shall implement the program as available funds permit.

     23-99-5. Penalty.

     Effective January 1, 2028, no person shall use a lawn care device with emissions in Rhode

Island. A civil fine may be imposed as a sanction for any infraction of this section, based upon a

graduated schedule of fifty dollars ($50.00) for the first offense, one hundred dollars ($100) for the

second office, and five hundred dollars ($500) for the third and subsequent offenses. The

department of environmental management shall accept location and date-stamped videos from a

cellphone or other camera of prohibited lawn care device use as legal evidence of a violation.

     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 HEALTH AND SAFETY -- ZERO-EMISSION LAWN CARE DEVICES

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     This act would mandate that by January 1, 2025, all lawn care devices sold in the state have

zero-emissions and that by January 1, 2028, all lawn care devices used in the state have zero

emissions. The DEM would be required to promulgate rules and regulations. Violations would

result in a civil fine.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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