The bill amends Section 42-11-10 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-11, which pertains to the Department of Administration in Rhode Island, to update the statewide planning program. It emphasizes the need for a comprehensive, strategic state planning process for Rhode Island's physical, economic, and social development, and the importance of coordinating these plans with federal programs. The bill outlines the establishment of a statewide planning program, overseen by the State Planning Council and the Division of Planning, which includes creating strategic plans and recommending them to the governor, the general assembly, and other relevant parties. It specifies the activities involved in strategic planning and details the composition of the State Planning Council. The bill includes insertions, such as replacing the "chairperson of the housing resources commission" with the "secretary of housing or designee," and deletions, such as revising the role of the technical committee and mandating the adoption of standards for renewable energy resources and facilities.

The Division of Statewide Planning is designated as the principal staff agency for the State Planning Council, responsible for preparing and coordinating strategic plans for the state's resources management. It recommends guidelines, standards, and programs to implement strategic planning and the state guide plan, maintains records of all plans and recommendations, manages the Rhode Island geographic information system, and provides technical assistance to political subdivisions. The bill includes technical changes, such as updating the State Planning Council's membership and clarifying the technical committee's role. It also indicates the deletion of a subsection previously removed by earlier legislation and outlines the Division of Planning's role as the principal staff agency of the Water Resources Board and the Water Resources Board Corporate. The act will take effect upon passage.

Statutes affected:
2821: 42-11-10