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| Sen. Sue Sosnowski and Rep. Donna Walsh - frequent team mates on coastal legislation |
I received two news releases about efforts in the state legislature to reform the way the state Coastal Resource Management Council is structured. The Senate has just passed by tandem bills introduced by Senator Sue Sosnowski, and Rep. Donna Walsh has introduced the House equivalent.
Donna and Sue frequently team up on maritime legislation since their overlapping districts include so much of coastal Rhode Island.
The bills make necessary changes to the composition of the CRMC required under the changes to the state Constitution voters approved that requires the separation of powers - the legislature's and the executive branch's distinct jurisdictions must be honored.
At a time when coastal issues - sea rise, climate change, storm destruction, use priorities - are such major concerns, these bills eliminate the potential distractions that can arise from the CRMC's faulty design.
If you keep reading, I've got Donna Walsh's news release that details her view on this subject and that is followed by the State House news release on the passage of Sue Sosnowski's bills. The next step for these bills is a hearing in the House Environment Committee where Donna serves as Vice-Chair.
Rep. Donna Walsh introduces legislation to improve the Coastal
Resources Management Council
Rhode
Island’s coastal resources rank among its greatest treasures. We are named the
“Ocean State” for good reason, as our coast line has shaped our history and
culture, and is vital to our state’s economy.
I
have introduced House Bills 5378 and 5356 to improve and streamline the state’s
primary agency responsible for protecting this precious asset, the Coastal
Resource Management Council (CRMC).
Under
H
5378, the membership of the CRMC would be reduced from 16 members to 12. I
have designed H 5378 to meet the requirements of the voter-mandated Separation
of Powers amendment to the state Constitution, but more importantly, to ensure
that the majority of the members of the CRMC are representatives of coastal
communities, large and small. Four of the members must be elected or appointed
officials from coastal municipalities.
My
legislation also calls for seven members drawn from the general public, at
least four of whom must reside in Rhode Island coastal communities.
These
members would be appointed by Governor, subject to confirmation by the Senate.
To
maintain an active role for the General Assembly in the management of our
coastal resources, I have also introduced House
Bill 5356, which would create a Joint Committee on Coastal Resources
comprised of eight members – four Representatives and four Senators. This Joint
Committee substitutes for the legislative appointees who have served on the CRMC
but may no longer do so because of the separation of powers.
This
committee would be empowered to conduct oversight of the state agencies charged
with coastal management and environmental protection, including the CRMC.
These
changes are necessary not only to comply with the requirements under separation
of powers, but to also enhance the CRMC’s ability to respond to the challenges
of the future. I want to provide our able CRMC director Grover Fugate and his
staff with the kind of leadership that will make the CRMC more effective and
efficient.
In
the coming years, we must be prepared to address problems that are largely out
of our control, such as more frequent and severe storms and rising sea levels.
There are hard decisions facing the CRMC such as what we must do to protect and
preserve natural and cultural features, including historic sites, barrier
beaches, coastal ponds, wetlands and fishing grounds. The CRMC must also
maintain a balance between conservation and development, and between conflicting
private and public interests.
We
will need the CRMC to work in coordination with DEM, our coastal communities
and federal agencies. I believe the changes I am proposing through these two
bills will help the CRMC perform its difficult, but essential, mission.
Senate
passes bills increasing CRMC accountability
STATE
HOUSE – The Senate has approved two related
pieces of legislation sponsored by Sen. V. Susan Sosnowski that would change
the composition of the Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC) to comply
with the separation of powers Constitutional amendment and create a permanent
joint legislative committee to oversee the Rhode Island Department of
Environmental Management and the CRMC.
The Senate,
which passed the separation of powers bill (2013-S
0122) in a 32 to 0 vote, has supported
restructuring the CRMC to comply with the separation of powers amendment for
several years. The chamber also approved the legislation (2013-S
0120) for a Permanent Legislative Joint Committee
on Coastal Resources with a vote of 34 to 0.
“It is
important to have a permanent entity in place to oversee the best interests of
the coastal communities and resources long after my colleagues and I are gone
from this chamber,” Senator Sosnowski (D-Dist. 37, South Kingstown, New
Shoreham) said. “Furthermore, the separation of powers Constitutional amendment
is crucial to continue the CRMC’s mission in the most transparent manner
possible.”
If approved
in the House, the first bill would change the membership of the CRMC from 16 to
12 members and allow municipal appointed members who no longer hold their
elected or appointed positions to continue to serve on the CRMC. It would also
increase the governor’s appointments from the general public from three to
seven and remove language stating that members of the General Assembly must
serve on the panel.
While it may seem like a small change, Senator Sosnowski
said it is important that CRMC conform to the separation of powers amendment
voters approved in 2004, providing balance to the governor’s appointments with
the requirement that the Senate approve his or her nominations.
The second
bill establishes the Permanent Joint Committee on Coastal Resources, which
would provide oversight of the CRMC and the Department of Environmental
Management in all matters relating to the use, conservation, regulation and
management of the Rhode Island’s coastal resources.
Rep. Donna Walsh sponsored companion
legislation to both bills (2013-H
5356, 2013-H
5378) in the House. They have been referred to the House Committee on
Environment and Natural Resources.
