Creating a Special Legislative Commission to Study and Provide Recommendations to Safeguard Rhode Island Against the Use of Nuclear Weapons

RESOLVED, That a special legislative commission be and the same is hereby created consisting of eleven (11) members, all of whom shall be United States citizens who are residents of Rhode Island, and who credibly reflect the makeup of the State's population with respect to gender, cultural, and ancestry background and who shall have publicly applied for membership on the commission; one of whom shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be appointed by the President of the Senate; one of whom shall be appointed by the RI Attorney General; and eight (8) of whom shall be appointed by the Secretary of State in consultation with the Governor. The application to serve on the special commission shall include: • The intent of the applicant to advance the investigation established by this Resolution; • The city or town in which the applicant resides; • The employment or retirement status of the applicant; and • The applicant's interest in serving on the commission and their view of why they might make an important contribution to the work of the commission. The Secretary of State shall post the appointment opportunity on the official website of the State within thirty (30) days of the passage of this Resolution, and all applications for service on the commission shall be submitted within thirty (30) days of the posting of the appointment opportunity. All appointments to the commission shall be made no sooner than ninety (90) days, nor later than one hundred twenty (120) days after the passage of this Resolution. The purpose of said commission shall be to investigate and report on what measures may be necessary and appropriate to protect the environment, wildlife, culture, and population of Rhode Island from the existential threat posed by nuclear weapons and to contribute toward the total elimination of these weapons under multi-lateral negotiation per the auspices of the 19 Non-Proliferation Treaty; the 20 New Start Treaty; and the 20 Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons as provided for in Article 4 of said treaty. Topics to be addressed by the commission shall include, but not be limited to, the harms posed to Rhode Island by nuclear weapons such as: • Physical destruction from explosions, fire, and radioactive contamination; • Infrastructure collapse including roads, bridges, electricity, and telecommunication; • Disruption of essential services such as food and fuel supply, financial systems, healthcare services, and housing; • Environmental devastation, including the loss of natural resources, ecosystems, and biodiversity; • Severe harm to the physical and mental well-being of Rhode Island residents; • Severe disruptions to Rhode Island from a nuclear attack on a nearby state or city (i.e. NYC or Boston) including radiation poisoning to organisms and water supplies, electrical blackouts; and • Food supply interruption, and any other matters the commission deems appropriate. The commission's deliberations shall also touch on the probable inability of preventing the single, first use of a nuclear weapon from escalating into full-scale nuclear war; and the scientifically validated danger of a years-long "nuclear winter" which would follow such a war and would limit the growth of crops and lead to widespread human starvation. The commission shall also investigate measures and make recommendations to the government and people of Rhode Island including, but not be limited to, financial, legislative, or legal measures to assist or encourage transition from nuclear weapons-related employment and commercial activities within the State to jobs and activities that instead address the climate crisis and other pressing social needs such as health care, housing, education, and elimination of poverty and discrimination. No later than thirty (30) days after the appointment of the final member of the commission, the members shall meet and organize and shall elect co-chairpersons by majority vote. The commission shall use procedures and decision-making per the currently in force rules of the Senate. The commission's proceedings, meetings, and activities shall be subject to the Open Meetings law of the State of Rhode Island. The commission shall meet on a regular basis to research, gather evidence, and hear testimony and advice in the manner that the members of the commission determine is the most suitable for achieving its purpose. The commission shall hold at least five (5) public hearings across the State to gather public input and inform citizens and legislators about the humanitarian and environmental consequences of nuclear weapons use. These hearings shall address the potential impact of a nuclear explosion on Providence or Quonset Point, including direct destruction, radioactive fallout downwind, and long-term contamination. They shall also examine any potential diplomatic breakthroughs such as entry into force of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons or other international diplomatic agreements aimed at reducing the threat of nuclear war. The topics of employment, technologies, and industries within the State devoted to both nuclear weapons and climate change shall be addressed. All members of the Rhode Island public shall be given a reasonable opportunity to offer their views and ideas related to the subjects under examination by the commission. If vacancies occur in the commission, the Secretary of State shall fill them after accepting applications as in the original appointments. The members of the special commission shall receive no compensation for their services. The commission shall use State-owned public halls for the hearing venues without necessity of payments. All departments and agencies of the State shall furnish such advice and information, documentary and otherwise, to the commission and its agents as is deemed necessary by the commission to facilitate the purpose 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, if applicable, drafts of legislation to implement them, to the General Assembly, Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, and all members of the Rhode Island Congressional Delegation, as well as to the press and the general public, no later than August 6, 2027; and said commission shall expire on November 6, 2027. EXPLANATION BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF JOINTRESOLUTION CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY AND PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS TO SAFEGUARD RHODE ISLAND AGAINST THE USE OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS *** This resolution would create an eleven (11) member special legislative study commission whose purpose it would be to study and provide recommendations to safeguard Rhode Island against use of nuclear weapons, and who would report back no later than August 6, 2027, and whose life would expire on November 6, 2027.