The bill amends several sections of the General Laws related to climate change and oil spill prevention in Rhode Island. It raises the uniform oil spill response and prevention fee from five cents ($0.05) to twelve cents ($0.12) per barrel of petroleum products or crude oil. The bill expands the purposes of the oil spill prevention fund to include support for projects and initiatives aimed at reducing emissions and meeting the goals set forth in the 2021 Act on Climate, as directed by the Executive Climate Change Coordinating Council (EC4).

Additionally, the bill establishes a new section for funding the council and allows for the allocation of funds for scientific research and monitoring relevant to state legislation, as well as projects that have been approved by the EC4 to reduce emissions. The state budget officer is authorized to create a restricted receipt account for these purposes. The bill also mandates annual reporting on fund usage to the governor and the general assembly. This act would take effect upon passage.

Statutes affected:
2547: 42-6.2-3.1, 46-12.9-5