The bill amends several sections of the General Laws related to climate change and oil spill prevention in Rhode Island. It establishes a new section for funding the Rhode Island Executive Climate Change Coordinating Council (EC4), allowing for better tracking of receipts and expenditures related to climate initiatives. The bill modifies the uniform oil spill response and prevention fee, increasing the minimum fee from five cents ($0.05) to ten cents ($0.10) per barrel of petroleum products or crude oil.

Additionally, the bill expands the purposes of the fund to include support for projects and initiatives aimed at reducing emissions and meeting the goals of the 2021 Act on Climate, as directed by the EC4. It specifies that the fund can be used for various projects approved by the council, including scientific research, monitoring, and the cleanup of releases from leaking underground storage tanks. The bill is set to take effect upon passage.

Statutes affected:
8179: 42-6.2-3.1, 46-12.9-5