The bill amends sections 46-23-1 and 46-23-6 of the General Laws in Chapter 46-23, which govern the Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC) in Rhode Island. It introduces new legislative findings that stress the importance of the state's coastal resources and the need for their comprehensive planning and management. The bill inserts language that reinforces the constitutional rights of the people to the shore and the state's duty to conserve natural resources, as well as the necessity of policies to protect public health, safety, and welfare. It designates the CRMC as the lead state agency for dredging in tidal waters and outlines its duties, including the development of a comprehensive plan for dredge material management. The bill also addresses the absence of a general maintenance dredging policy and calls for the establishment of such a policy and program.

The bill further amends environmental legislation to require that any project involving the lease of tidal lands of twenty-five acres or more must be approved by the general assembly. It sets a maximum fee of $80,000 per annum for transatlantic communication cables landing in Rhode Island, with the fees going to the Bays, Rivers, and Watersheds Fund. The CRMC is given powers and duties for managing coastal resources, including the development of the marine resources development plan and special area management plans, which must be consistent with federal and state laws and involve local participation. The council's jurisdiction is defined, and it is given exclusive authority over certain activities and land uses. The bill also delineates the roles of the CRMC and the department of environmental management in relation to agricultural activities and coastal resource management. Lastly, the bill specifies the council's operating functions, such as issuing permits, granting licenses, and enforcing riparian rights, and it addresses the management of pre-existing residential boating facilities, with a deadline for applications set for January 31, 1999. The bill includes a new clause for the council to require fees for the use or lease of filled lands and states that large-scale filling projects or leases of tidal lands of twenty-five acres or more require general assembly approval. It would take effect upon passage.