2023 -- H 6342

========

LC002879

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

____________

H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A LEGISLATIVE STUDY COMMISSION TO EVALUATE AND PROVIDE

RECOMMENDATIONS ON PROPER FOREST MANAGEMENT FOR FIRE PREVENTION

     Introduced By: Representatives Cotter, Chippendale, Casimiro, Spears, Kennedy,
Speakman, and Carson

     Date Introduced: April 28, 2023

     Referred To: House Environment and Natural Resources

     WHEREAS, Actively managing forests can actually help restore ecosystem health,

improve habitat quality and reduce severe fire risks; and

     WHEREAS, Accurately diagnosing and managing these forest health threats is the first

step to protecting forests from harm ensuring they will grow into the future; now, therefore be it

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

consisting of twelve (12) members: two (2) of whom shall be members of the House of

Representatives, not more than one from the same political party, to be appointed by the Speaker

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

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

Management Agency, or designee; one of whom shall be the President of the Rhode Island State

Association of Fire Fighters, or designee; one of whom shall be a member of the Forest

Conservation Commission, to be appointed by the Director of the RI Department of

Environmental Management; one of whom shall be the Executive Director of the Rhode Island

Land Trust Council, or designee; one of whom shall be the President of the Rhode Island Forest

Conservators Organization, or designee; one of whom shall be the President of the Rhode Island

Association of Fire Chiefs, Inc., or designee; one of whom shall be the former Rhode Island Chief

of Forestry, or designee; one of whom shall be a member of the Rhode Island Association of

Conservation Districts, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; and one of whom shall be

the State Director of The Nature Conservancy (TNC), or designee.

     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; provided

that, the majority leader or the minority leader of the political party which is entitled to the

appointment consents to the appointment of the member of the general public.

     The purpose of said commission shall be to find solutions for proper forest management

for fire prevention in Rhode Island.

     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 Speaker of the House 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

House of Representatives no later than February 28, 2024, and said commission shall expire on

April 30, 2024.

========

LC002879

========

LC002879 - Page 2 of 3

EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A LEGISLATIVE STUDY COMMISSION TO EVALUATE AND PROVIDE

RECOMMENDATIONS ON PROPER FOREST MANAGEMENT FOR FIRE PREVENTION

***

     This resolution would create a twelve (12) member legislative commission whose

purpose it would be to evaluate and provide recommendations on proper forest management for

fire prevention, and who would report back to the House no later than February 28, 2024, and

whose life would expire on April 30, 2024.

========

LC002879

========

LC002879 - Page 3 of 3