Rhode Island 2023 Regular Session

Rhode Island Senate Bill S0771 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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5	5	2023 -- S 0771
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7	7	LC001752
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9	9	S TATE OF RHODE IS LAND
10	10	IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
11	11	JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023
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14	14	A N A C T
15	15	RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- LABOR STANDARDS IN
16	16	RENEWABLE ENERGY PRO JECTS
17	17	Introduced By: Senators Britto, Ruggerio, Lawson, Ciccone, DiPalma, and DiMario
18	18	Date Introduced: March 23, 2023
19	19	Referred To: Senate Environment & Agriculture
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22	22	It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
23	23	SECTION 1. Section 39-26.9-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 39-26.9 entitled "Labor 1
24	24	Standards in Renewable Energy Projects [Effective January 1, 2023.]" is hereby amended to read 2
25	25	as follows: 3
26	26	39-26.9-2. Definitions. [Effective January 1, 2023.] 4
27	27	For the purposes of this chapter: 5
28	28	(1) “Approved apprenticeship program” or “apprenticeship program” means an 6
29	29	apprenticeship program that has been approved by the U.S. Department of Labor, or by a 7
30	30	recognized state apprenticeship agency, pursuant to 29 C.F.R. Parts 29 and 30; however, such 8
31	31	programs shall not include those that have obtained only provisional approval status. The required 9
32	32	apprenticeship programs may either be programs that have specifically allocated funding and are 10
33	33	subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, 29 U.S.C. § 1001 et seq. 11
34	34	(“ERISA”), or non-ERISA programs financed by general funds of employers. 12
35	35	(2) “Covered project” means a renewable energy project that: 13
36	36	(i) Utilizes renewable energy resources; 14
37	37	(ii) Is situated on land; 15
38	38	(iii) Is situated on or in water; 16
39	39	(iv) Has a construction commencement date on or after April 1, 2023; 17
40	40	(v) Has a total nameplate capacity of three megawatts (3 MW) one megawatt (1 MW) or 18
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44	44	more in aggregate size; and 1
45	45	(vi) Is constructed and/or operated pursuant to chapter 26.1, 26.4, or 26.6 of this title. 2
46	46	(3) “Department” means the department of labor and training. 3
47	47	(4) “Director” means the director of the department of labor and training. 4
48	48	(5) “Labor organization” means any organization that exists and is constituted for the 5
49	49	purpose, in whole or in part, of collective bargaining, or of dealing with employers concerning 6
50	50	grievances, terms or conditions of employment, or of other mutual aid or protection and that is not 7
51	51	a company union as defined in § 28-7-3. 8
52	52	(6) “Labor peace agreement” means an agreement between an entity and a labor 9
53	53	organization that, at a minimum, protects the state’s proprietary interest by prohibiting labor 10
54	54	organizations and members from engaging in picketing, work stoppages, boycotts, and any other 11
55	55	economic interference during the deployment of a covered project. This agreement means that the 12
56	56	applicant has agreed not to disrupt efforts by the labor organizations to communicate with, and 13
57	57	attempt to organize and represent, the applicant’s employees. This requirement shall not be 14
58	58	applicable to maintenance work performed on renewable energy solar projects. 15
59	59	(7) “Renewable energy project” means the construction, installation, use, maintenance, 16
60	60	operation, changing, or retiring of a renewable energy resource. 17
61	61	(8) “Renewable energy resources” means any renewable power generation source listed in 18
62	62	§ 39-26-5(a). 19
63	63	SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. 20
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70	70	EXPLANATION
71	71	BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
72	72	OF
73	73	A N A C T
74	74	RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- LABOR STANDARDS IN
75	75	RENEWABLE ENERGY PRO JECTS
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77	77	This act would amend the definition of "covered project" having a total nameplate capacity 1
78	78	of three megawatts (3 MW) down to one megawatt (1 MW). 2
79	79	This act would take effect upon passage. 3
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81	81	LC001752
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