2023 -- S 0551

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LC001743

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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 EDUCATION -- THE RHODE ISLAND CLIMATE CHANGE AND OCEAN

PROTECTION WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT ACT

     Introduced By: Senators Lawson, Lauria, DiMario, Cano, Euer, Murray, Valverde, Britto,
Gu, and Zurier

     Date Introduced: March 07, 2023

     Referred To: Senate Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Title 16 of the General Laws entitled "EDUCATION" is hereby amended by

adding thereto the following chapter:

CHAPTER 112

THE RHODE ISLAND CLIMATE CHANGE AND OCEAN PROTECTION WORKFORCE

DEVELOPMENT ACT

     16-112-1. Definitions.

     As used in this chapter:

     (1) "Apprenticeship" means a proven model of job preparation that combines paid on-the-

job learning with related instruction to progressively increase workers’ skill levels and wages. It is

an employer-driven model that provides an effective way for employers to recruit, train, and retain

highly skilled workers. As an “earn and learn” strategy, apprenticeship offers job seekers immediate

employment that offers advancement along a career path and a nationally recognized credential.

     (2) "Blue economy" means an economy built on the sustainable use of ocean resources for

economic growth, improved livelihoods, and jobs while preserving the health of the ocean

ecosystem.

     (3) "Climate change education" means nonformal and formal interdisciplinary learning at

all age levels about:

     (i) Climate change, climate adaptation and mitigation, climate resilience, and climate

justice; and

     (ii) The effects of climate change, climate adaptation and mitigation, climate resilience,

and climate justice on the environmental, energy, social, and economic systems of the United

States.

     (4) "Climate literacy" means competence or knowledge of climate change, its causes and

impacts, and the technical, scientific, economic, and social dynamics of promising solutions.

     (5) "Climate justice" means the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people,

regardless of race, color, culture, national origin, or income, with respect to the development,

implementation, and enforcement of policies and projects to ensure that each person enjoys the

same degree of protection from the adverse effects of climate change.

     (6) "Environmental justice" means the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all

people, regardless of race, color, culture, national origin, or income, with respect to the

development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies to

ensure that each person enjoys:

     (i) The same degree of protection from environmental and health hazards; and

     (ii) Equal access to any federal agency action on environmental justice issues in order to

have a healthy environment in which to live, learn, work, and recreate.

     (7) "Environmental justice community" means a community with significant representation

of communities of color, low-income communities, or Tribal and indigenous communities that

experiences, or is at risk of experiencing, higher or more adverse human health or environmental

effects as compared to other communities.

     (8) "Green economy" means an economy that results in improved human and economic

well-being and social equity by significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological

scarcities.

     (9) "Institution of higher education" has the meaning given the term in section 101 of the

Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001).

     (10) "Local educational agency; State educational agency" have the meanings given those

terms in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).

     (11) "Nonformal" means, with respect to learning, out-of-school educational programming

carried out by nonprofit organizations and public agencies.

     (12) "Nonprofit organization" means an organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the

Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from taxation under 501(a) of that Code.

     (13) "Ocean literacy" means competence or knowledge of the ocean, its interaction with

humans, and the technical, scientific, economic, and social dynamics of ocean protection.

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     (14) "Ocean protection education" means nonformal and formal interdisciplinary learning

at all age levels about:

     (i) Ocean life, human interactions with the ocean, the ocean’s physical geography, and

ocean-related environmental issues; and

     (ii) The effects of ocean-related environmental issues on the environmental, energy, social,

and economic systems of the United States.

     (15) "Union" means an organization of workers who are employed by the same employer

and who use their collective power to enhance the standard of living for all workers and their

families.

     16-112-2. Funding.

     There shall be an annual appropriation of no less than five hundred thousand dollars

($500,000) per fiscal year to invest in:

     (1) Increasing and enhancing climate and ocean literacy of the Rhode Island workforce by

broadening the understanding of climate change and ocean protection, including possible long-term

and short-term consequences, disproportionate impacts of those consequences, and potential

solutions;

     (2) Applying the latest scientific and technological discoveries to provide formal and

nonformal learning opportunities to individuals of all ages, including individuals of diverse cultural

and linguistic backgrounds; and

     (3) Emphasizing actionable information and transferrable skills to help people understand

and promote implementation of new technologies, programs, and incentives related to climate

change, climate adaptation and mitigation, climate resilience, climate justice, environmental

justice, and ocean protection.

     16-112-3. Grant program.

     (a) The department of labor and training shall disburse these funds to eligible recipients.

     (b) Eligible recipients shall include:

     (1) State and local educational agencies, in collaboration with local businesses and local

nonprofit organizations, for the implementation of climate and ocean literacy plans for formal and

nonformal climate change and ocean protection education for people ages sixteen (16) years and

up that:

     (i) Are aligned with state education standards;

     (ii) Ensure that students graduate from high school with climate and ocean literacy;

     (iii) Include relevant teacher training and professional development; and

     (iv) Include at least one of the following:

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     (A) Integration of key climate change and ocean protection concepts into state education

standards for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), civics and social studies,

and other relevant subject areas during the next revision of such standards.

     (B) Development of climate change and ocean protection education frameworks and model

curricula and curation and dissemination of existing climate change and ocean protection

curriculum materials.

     (C) Creation of applied learning project-based models, such as models making optimum

use of green features improvements to school facilities, such as energy systems, lighting systems,

water management, waste management, and school grounds improvements.

     (D) Incorporation of climate change mitigation and blue and green technologies into new

and existing career and technical education career tracks and work-based learning experiences,

including development of partnerships with labor organizations, trade organizations, and

apprenticeship programs.

     (2) Institutions of higher education and networks or partnerships of such institutions to

engage teams of faculty and students to develop applied climate research and deliver to local

community's direct services related to local climate mitigation and adaptation and ocean protection

issues, with priority given to projects that:

     (i) Foster long-term campus-community partnerships;

     (ii) Show potential to scale work beyond the grant term;

     (iii) Incorporate faculty training and professional development;

     (iv) Are inclusive for all segments of the population; and

     (v) Promote equitable and just outcomes.

     (3) Professional associations and academic disciplinary societies for projects that build

capacity at the state and national levels for continuing education by practicing professionals and

the general public in blue and green economy fields.

     (4) Youth development and nonprofit organization programs that engage in community-

based climate mitigation and adaptation and ocean protection work that includes a substantive

educational and apprenticeship component.

     (c)(1) The department of labor and training shall administer the grant program required by

subsection (a) of this section.

     (2) The department of labor shall annually consult with other relevant agencies of state and

municipal government, nonprofit organizations, businesses, labor unions, and community-based

organizations to determine ways in which grant making under subsection (b) of this section can

enhance and support other climate change and ocean protection education, workforce development

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and training, and environmental justice goals.

     (3) The department of labor and training shall direct at least forty percent (40%) of all funds

appropriated for grants under subsections (b)(2) through (b)(4) of this section to environmental

justice communities.

     (4) The commission on post-secondary education shall establish communities of practice

with respect to each of subsections (b)(1) through (b)(4) of this section in order to accelerate

learning.

     16-112-4. Reporting.

     The department of labor and training shall report annually to the general assembly and the

governor no later than December 31 of each year on the status and progress of the program

authorized by this chapter.

     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 EDUCATION -- THE RHODE ISLAND CLIMATE CHANGE AND OCEAN

PROTECTION WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT ACT

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     This act would appropriate five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) per fiscal year to

invest in a climate change and ocean protection workforce development grant program.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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