2017 -- S 0982

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LC002888

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY PESTICIDE CONTROL

REGULATIONS

     

     Introduced By: Senators Sosnowski, Coyne, Calkin, Kettle, and Conley

     Date Introduced: June 21, 2017

     Referred To: Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar

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     WHEREAS, Pesticides are valuable to our state's agricultural production and to the

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protection of human life and the environment from harmful insects, rodents, weeds, and other

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forms of life which may be pests; and

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     WHEREAS, It is essential to the public health and welfare that they be regulated to

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prevent potential adverse effects on humans, animals and beneficial insects in addition to the

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environment; and

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     WHEREAS, New pesticides are continually being discovered, synthesized, or developed

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which are valuable for the control of harmful pests and for use as defoliants, desiccants, and plant

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regulators; and

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     WHEREAS, Some of these pesticides may be ineffective, may cause injury to humans,

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animals and beneficial insects, or may cause unreasonable adverse effects on the environment if

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not properly used; and

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     WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management regulates the

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proper availability and use of pesticides in the state; now, therefore be it

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     RESOLVED, That a special legislative commission to be known as the "Commission to

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Study Pesticide Control Regulations" be and the same is hereby created consisting of eleven (11)

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members to be appointed by the President of the Senate: three (3) of whom shall be members of

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the Senate, one of whom shall serve as the chairperson of the commission; one of whom shall be

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a representative of the Environment Council of Rhode Island; one of whom shall be a

 

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representative of the agriculture industry; one of whom shall be a representative of the Rhode

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Island Nursery and Landscape Association; one of whom shall be a representative of the pest

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control industry; one of whom shall be a licensed arborist; one of whom shall be a representative

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of the golf industry; one of whom shall be a representative of the pesticide manufacturing

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industry; and one of whom shall be a professor with botanical expertise from the University of

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Rhode Island.

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      The purpose of said commission shall be to review all pesticide control regulations and

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make recommendations to the Senate to update and strengthen the governance of the use of

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pesticides in Rhode Island.

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

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the call of the Chairperson of the commission.

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      Vacancies in said commission shall be filled in like manner as the original appointment.

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      The commission shall assemble no less than four (4) times, or more often at the call of

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the Chairperson, upon written notice of each meeting stating the place, day, and time of the

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meeting along with the purpose and/or agenda of the meeting.

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      A quorum of the Commission shall consist of a majority of its membership and the

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membership shall receive no compensation for their services.

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      All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such advice and information,

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documentary and otherwise, to said commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or

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desirable by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this resolution; and be it further

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      RESOLVED, That the commission shall report its findings and recommendations to the

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President of the Senate no later than March 1, 2018, and said commission shall expire on June 1,

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2018.

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LC002888

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