Creating a Special Legislative Commission to Study and Provide Recommendations on the Water Supply Planning for New Housing Developments in Rural Communities

WHEREAS, Rhode Island faces a housing supply shortage that impacts all residents, especially those with low and moderate incomes; and

WHEREAS, Safe drinking water supplies in Rhode Island are abundant but not infinite or equally available throughout the state; and

WHEREAS, Protecting and ensuring access to safe drinking water supplies to support existing and future needs is a public health priority; and

WHEREAS, New construction and impervious surface expansion can impact local public drinking water supply watersheds and the abundance and quality of drinking water for abutting communities; and

WHEREAS, The development of housing needs to be balanced with protecting drinking water resources; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That a special legislative commission be and the same is hereby created consisting of eleven (11) members: three (3) of whom shall be members of the House of Representatives, not more than two (2) from the same political party, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be the Director of the Department of Environmental Management, or designee; one of whom shall be the Executive Director of the Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns or designee; one of whom shall be the manager of a water authority serving a municipality of fewer than twenty-five thousand in population; one of whom shall be the manager of a water authority serving a municipality of more than twenty-five thousand; one of whom shall be a professional who specializes in the hydrology, environmental engineering and/or public health compliance of water systems; one of whom shall be the executive director of Rhode Island Housing or designee; one of whom shall be the Director of the Rhode Island Department of Health or designee; and one of whom shall be the Chairperson of the Water Resources Board, or designee. In lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to 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. The purpose of said commission shall be to make a comprehensive study and provide recommendations for evaluating, planning for, and limiting the impacts of new housing development on the safety, quality, and capacities of public water supplies and watersheds in rural communities. Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall meet at the call of the Speaker of the House and organize and shall select a chairperson. 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 Speaker of the House 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 recommendations to the House of Representatives on or before June 15, 2027, and said commission shall expire on July 1, 2027. EXPLANATION BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF HOUSERESOLUTION CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY AND PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE WATER SUPPLY PLANNING FOR NEW HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS IN RURAL COMMUNITIES *** This resolution would create a special legislative commission to study and provide recommendations on the water supply planning for new housing developments in rural communities, and who would report its findings and recommendations to the House of Representatives on or before June 15, 2027, and said commission would expire on July 1, 2027. ======== LC005780/SUB A/2 ========