2023 -- H 6105
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LC001727
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S TATE OF RHODE IS LAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023
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A N A C T
RELATING TO EDUCATION -- THE RHODE ISLAND CLIMATE CHANGE AND O CEAN
PROTECTION WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT ACT
Introduced By: Representatives Cortvriend, Carson, Donovan, Speakman, McGaw,
Tanzi, Boylan, Handy, Spears, and Potter
Date Introduced: March 03, 2023
Referred To: House Finance
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Title 16 of the General Laws entitled "EDUCATION" is hereby amended by 1
adding thereto the following chapter: 2
CHAPTER 112 3
THE RHODE ISLAND CLIMATE CHANGE AND OCEAN PROTECTION WORKFORCE 4
DEVELOPMENT ACT 5
16-112-1. Definitions. 6
As used in this chapter: 7
(1) "Apprenticeship" means a proven model of job preparation that combines paid on-the-8
job learning with related instruction to progressively increase workers’ skill levels and wages. It is 9
an employer-driven model that provides an effective way for employers to recruit, train, and retain 10
highly skilled workers. As an “earn and learn” strategy, apprenticeship offers job seekers immediate 11
employment that offers advancement along a career path and a nationally recognized credential. 12
(2) "Blue economy" means an economy built on the sustainable use of ocean resources for 13
economic growth, improved livelihoods, and jobs while preserving the health of the ocean 14
ecosystem. 15
(3) "Climate change education" means nonformal and formal interdisciplinary learning at 16
all age levels about: 17
(i) Climate change, climate adaptation and mitigation, climate resilience, and climate 18
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justice; and 1
(ii) The effects of climate change, climate adaptation and mitigation, climate resilience, 2
and climate justice on the environmental, energy, social, and economic systems of the United 3
States. 4
(4) "Climate literacy" means competence or knowledge of climate change, its causes and 5
impacts, and the technical, scientific, economic, and social dynamics of promising solutions. 6
(5) "Climate justice" means the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people, 7
regardless of race, color, culture, national origin, or income, with respect to the development, 8
implementation, and enforcement of policies and projects to ensure that each person enjoys the 9
same degree of protection from the adverse effects of climate change. 10
(6) "Environmental justice" means the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all 11
people, regardless of race, color, culture, national origin, or income, with respect to the 12
development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies to 13
ensure that each person enjoys: 14
(i) The same degree of protection from environmental and health hazards; and 15
(ii) Equal access to any federal agency action on environmental justice issues in order to 16
have a healthy environment in which to live, learn, work, and recreate. 17
(7) "Environmental justice community" means a community with significant representation 18
of communities of color, low-income communities, or Tribal and indigenous communities that 19
experiences, or is at risk of experiencing, higher or more adverse human health or environmental 20
effects as compared to other communities. 21
(8) "Green economy" means an economy that results in improved human and economic 22
well-being and social equity by significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological 23
scarcities. 24
(9) "Institution of higher education" has the meaning given the term in section 101 of the 25
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001). 26
(10) "Local educational agency; State educational agency" have the meanings given those 27
terms in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801). 28
(11) "Nonformal" means, with respect to learning, out-of-school educational programming 29
carried out by nonprofit organizations and public agencies. 30
(12) "Nonprofit organization" means an organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the 31
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from taxation under 501(a) of that Code. 32
(13) "Ocean literacy" means competence or knowledge of the ocean, its interaction with 33
humans, and the technical, scientific, economic, and social dynamics of ocean protection. 34
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(14) "Ocean protection education" means nonformal and formal interdisciplinary learning 1
at all age levels about: 2
(i) Ocean life, human interactions with the ocean, the ocean’s physical geography, and 3
ocean-related environmental issues; and 4
(ii) The effects of ocean-related environmental issues on the environmental, energy, social, 5
and economic systems of the United States. 6
(15) "Union" means an organization of workers who are employed by the same employer 7
and who use their collective power to enhance the standard of living for all workers and their 8
families. 9
16-112-2. Funding. 10
There shall be an annual appropriation of no less than five hundred thousand dollars 11
($500,000) per fiscal year to invest in: 12
(1) Increasing and enhancing climate and ocean literacy of the Rhode Island workforce by 13
broadening the understanding of climate change and ocean protection, including possible long-term 14
and short-term consequences, disproportionate impacts of those consequences, and potential 15
solutions; 16
(2) Applying the latest scientific and technological discoveries to provide formal and 17
nonformal learning opportunities to individuals of all ages, including individuals of diverse cultural 18
and linguistic backgrounds; and 19
(3) Emphasizing actionable information and transferrable skills to help people understand 20
and promote implementation of new technologies, programs, and incentives related to climate 21
change, climate adaptation and mitigation, climate resilience, climate justice, environmental 22
justice, and ocean protection. 23
16-112-3. Grant program. 24
(a) The department of labor and training shall disburse these funds to eligible recipients. 25
(b) Eligible recipients shall include: 26
(1) State and local educational agencies, in collaboration with local businesses and local 27
nonprofit organizations, for the implementation of climate and ocean literacy plans for formal and 28
nonformal climate change and ocean protection education for people ages sixteen (16) years and 29
up that: 30
(i) Are aligned with state education standards; 31
(ii) Ensure that students graduate from high school with climate and ocean literacy; 32
(iii) Include relevant teacher training and professional development; and 33
(iv) Include at least one of the following: 34
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(A) Integration of key climate change and ocean protection concepts into state education 1
standards for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), civics and social studies, 2
and other relevant subject areas during the next revision of such standards. 3
(B) Development of climate change and ocean protection education frameworks and model 4
curricula and curation and dissemination of existing climate change and ocean protection 5
curriculum materials. 6
(C) Creation of applied learning project-based models, such as models making optimum 7
use of green features improvements to school facilities, such as energy systems, lighting systems, 8
water management, waste management, and school grounds improvements. 9
(D) Incorporation of climate change mitigation and blue and green technologies into new 10
and existing career and technical education career tracks and work-based learning experiences, 11
including development of partnerships with labor organizations, trade organizations, and 12
apprenticeship programs. 13
(2) Institutions of higher education and networks or partnerships of such institutions to 14
engage teams of faculty and students to develop applied climate research and deliver to local 15
community's direct services related to local climate mitigation and adaptation and ocean protection 16
issues, with priority given to projects that: 17
(i) Foster long-term campus-community partnerships; 18
(ii) Show potential to scale work beyond the grant term; 19
(iii) Incorporate faculty training and professional development; 20
(iv) Are inclusive for all segments of the population; and 21
(v) Promote equitable and just outcomes. 22
(3) Professional associations and academic disciplinary societies for projects that build 23
capacity at the state and national levels for continuing education by practicing professionals and 24
the general public in blue and green economy fields. 25
(4) Youth development and nonprofit organization programs that engage in community-26
based climate mitigation and adaptation and ocean protection work that includes a substantive 27
educational and apprenticeship component. 28
(c)(1) The department of labor and training shall administer the grant program required by 29
subsection (a) of this section. 30
(2) The department of labor shall annually consult with other relevant agencies of state and 31
municipal government, nonprofit organizations, businesses, labor unions, and community-based 32
organizations to determine ways in which grant making under subsection (b) of this section can 33
enhance and support other climate change and ocean protection education, workforce development 34
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and training, and environmental justice goals. 1
(3) The department of labor and training shall direct at least forty percent (40%) of all funds 2
appropriated for grants under subsections (b)(2) through (b)(4) of this section to environmental 3
justice communities. 4
(4) The commission on post-secondary education shall establish communities of practice 5
with respect to each of subsections (b)(1) through (b)(4) of this section in order to accelerate 6
learning. 7
16-112-4. Reporting. 8
The department of labor and training shall report annually to the general assembly and the 9
governor no later than December 31 of each year on the status and progress of the program 10
authorized by this chapter. 11
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. 12
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO EDUCATION -- THE RHODE ISLAND CLIMATE CHANGE AND OCEA N
PROTECTION WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT ACT
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This act would appropriate five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) per fiscal year to 1
invest in a climate change and ocean protection workforce development grant program. 2
This act would take effect upon passage. 3
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