2019 -- S 0194 SUBSTITUTE A

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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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 AND EVALUATE

RHODE ISLAND'S ELECTRIC AND NATURAL GAS TRANSMISSION AND

DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM INFRASTRUCTURE

     Introduced By: Senators DiPalma, Euer, Seveney, Felag, and Murray

     Date Introduced: January 31, 2019

     Referred To: Senate Commerce

     WHEREAS, All Rhode Islanders depend on and deserve a safe and reliable electrical

power and natural gas transmission and distribution infrastructure system to meet the demands of

today and the expected demands of tomorrow; and

     WHEREAS, A dependable electric and natural gas transmission and distribution

infrastructure system is critical to homeowners as well as businesses; and

     WHEREAS, It is imperative that Rhode Island plans for the needs of today and

tomorrow. To that end, a reliable and resilient electric and natural gas transmission and

distribution infrastructure system is paramount; now, therefore be it

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

consisting of nineteen (19) members: three (3) of whom shall be members of the Senate, not more

than two (2) from the same political party, to be appointed by the President of the Senate; one of

whom shall be the Administrator of the RI Division of Public Utilities and Carriers, or designee;

one of whom shall be the Chief Resiliency Officer of the RI Infrastructure Bank, or designee; one

of whom shall be the RI Cybersecurity Officer, or designee; one of whom shall be the Executive

Director of RI League of Cities and Towns, or designee; one of whom shall be the President of

National Grid RI, or designee; one of whom shall be the General Manager of Providence Water,

or designee; one of whom shall be the Executive Director of the Narragansett Bay Commission,

or designee; one of whom shall be the President of Enbridge Gas, or designee; one of whom shall

be the President of the Block Island Power Company, or designee; one of whom shall be the

General Manager of the Pascoag Utility District, or designee; one of whom shall be the President

of Rhode Island AARP, or designee; one of whom shall be the Director of RI Department of

Environmental Management, or designee; four (4) of whom shall be members of the public, all of

whom shall be appointed by the President of the Senate.

     In lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to a permanent advisory

commission, 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 make a comprehensive study and evaluate

Rhode Island’s electric and natural gas transmission and distribution system infrastructure.

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

the call of the President of the Senate and organize and shall select a chairperson from among the

legislators.

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

     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 Joint Committee on Legislative Services 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 results to the Senate on or

before March 1, 2020, and said commission shall expire on June 30, 2020.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY AND EVALUATE

RHODE ISLAND'S ELECTRIC AND NATURAL GAS TRANSMISSION AND

DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM INFRASTRUCTURE

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     This resolution would create a nineteen (19) member special legislative commission

whose purpose it would be to make a comprehensive study and evaluate Rhode Island's electric

and natural gas transmission and distribution system infrastructure, and who would report back to

the Senate on or before March 1, 2020, and said commission would expire on June 30, 2020.

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