This bill establishes a new Division of Climate Change and Damage within the Department of Environmental Services, appointing a director to oversee its operations. The director will be nominated by the commissioner from a list of three candidates and appointed by the governor with council consent, serving a four-year term. The division's responsibilities include adaptation planning, research and data analysis, public engagement and education, and funding and grants management. Specific tasks outlined for the division include conducting vulnerability assessments, developing resilience plans, climate modeling, and administering grant programs for climate change initiatives.

The bill does not provide funding for the new division or the director's position, which is estimated to require an additional five staff members to fulfill the outlined responsibilities. The total estimated cost for these positions is over $822,000 per fiscal year, covering salaries and related expenses. However, the bill does not authorize or allocate funding for these positions, which raises concerns about the feasibility of implementing the division's functions effectively. The act is set to take effect 60 days after its passage.