Rhode Island 2025 Regular Session

Rhode Island Senate Bill S0048 Compare Versions

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

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5	5	2025 -- S 0048
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7	7	LC000231
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9	9	S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D
10	10	IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
11	11	JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025
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14	14	J O I N T R E S O L U T I O N
15	15	MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $15,200,000 TO BE USED TO PURCHASE PFAS-FREE
16	16	FIREFIGHTING GEAR
17	17	Introduced By: Senators Felag, Murray, LaMountain, DiPalma, Ciccone, Britto,
18	18	Bissaillon, and Urso
19	19	Date Introduced: January 23, 2025
20	20	Referred To: Senate Finance
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23	23	WHEREAS, Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly referred to as 1
24	24	PFAS, are manmade chemicals found in a wide range of products, including, but not limited to, 2
25	25	adult mattresses, air care products, clothing, cleaning products, cookware, cosmetics, and many, 3
26	26	many more; and 4
27	27	WHEREAS, Increasingly, research shows that long-term exposure to products containing 5
28	28	PFAS creates heightened and increased health and safety risks to persons who are so exposed; 6
29	29	and 7
30	30	WHEREAS, By the nature of their work and the extent to which PFAS are found in more 8
31	31	and more items commonly found in private households and businesses, firefighters and rescue 9
32	32	personnel are particularly exposed to heightened amounts of PFAS in performing their duties as 10
33	33	firefighters and rescue personnel; and 11
34	34	WHEREAS, A significant percentage of current, in-use firefighter and rescue personnel 12
35	35	protective gear includes PFAS substances, and that exposure to PFAS substances is increased 13
36	36	when the materials containing PFAS are exposed to high temperatures, which firefighters and 14
37	37	rescue personnel face on daily basis; and 15
38	38	WHEREAS, There now exists recently-developed firefighter and rescue personnel 16
39	39	protective gear which is PFAS free, and the use of which, while not completely eliminating the 17
40	40	inherent possibility of exposure, would dramatically reduce the amount of exposure to PFAS 18
41	41	substances which firefighters and rescue personnel face regularly; and 19
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44	44	LC000231 - Page 2 of 3
45	45	WHEREAS, That the sum of fifteen million, two hundred thousand dollars ($15,200,000) 1
46	46	would enable the purchase of PFAS free personnel protective gear for approximately two 2
47	47	thousand, four hundred (2,400) professional firefighters and one thousand, four hundred (1,400) 3
48	48	volunteer firefighters, across the state; now therefore be it 4
49	49	RESOLVED, That there is hereby appropriated, out of any money in the treasury not 5
50	50	otherwise appropriated for fiscal year 2025-2026, the sum of fifteen million, two hundred 6
51	51	thousand dollars ($15,200,000) for those cities and towns in the State of Rhode Island to purchase 7
52	52	firefighter and rescue personnel protective gear which is PFAS free; and the state controller is 8
53	53	hereby authorized and directed to draw his orders upon the general treasurer for the payment of 9
54	54	said sum, or so much thereof as may be from time to time required, upon receipt of properly 10
55	55	authenticated vouchers. 11
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57	57	LC000231
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61	61	LC000231 - Page 3 of 3
62	62	EXPLANATION
63	63	BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
64	64	OF
65	65	J O I N T R E S O L U T I O N
66	66	MAKING AN APPROPRIAT ION OF $15,200,000 TO BE USED TO PURCHASE PFAS-FREE
67	67	FIREFIGHTING GEAR
68	68	***
69	69	This joint resolution would authorize the appropriation of the sum of fifteen million, two 1
70	70	hundred thousand dollars ($15,2000,000) to cities and towns to purchase firefighter and rescue 2
71	71	personnel protective gear which is PFAS free. 3
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73	73	LC000231
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