Bill > H5320

This Joint Resolution establishes a special 15-member legislative commission, named "The Rhode Island Commission on Ocean Acidification," to study the impacts of ocean acidification on Rhode Island. Ocean acidification refers to the ongoing decrease in the pH of the Earth's oceans, caused primarily by the uptake of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, which can harm marine life and ecosystems. The commission will be composed of legislators, state agency directors, representatives from environmental organizations, commercial fishing, business, and higher education, and will be tasked with identifying available scientific data, pinpointing knowledge gaps, and developing policy recommendations to address and mitigate the adverse effects of ocean acidification. The commission will review existing research, identify at-risk marine species and their economic consequences, propose actions that leverage current laws and programs, explore new partnerships, and investigate financial strategies to support mitigation efforts, with a mandate to report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly by specific deadlines before its expiration.