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, data analysis on greenhouse gas emissions, leading public awareness campaigns, and administering grant programs for climate initiatives.

The bill does not provide funding for the new division or its director, which is estimated to require an annual budget of over $822,000 to cover salaries and operational costs for the director and additional staff. The Department of Environmental Services has indicated that while they currently perform some related functions, the majority of the tasks outlined in the bill exceed their existing staffing capabilities. Consequently, the establishment of this division may lead to increased expenditures without corresponding appropriations, raising concerns about the feasibility of implementing the proposed initiatives effectively.