JOINT RESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $40,000 TO THE RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT (DEM) FOR THE NORTHEASTERN FOREST FIRE PROTECTION COMPACT (Appropriates the sum of $40,000 to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management.)

H7705

2026 -- H 7705
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LC005124
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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J O I N T R E S O L U T I O N
MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $40,000 TO THE RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT (DEM) FOR THE NORTHEASTERN FOREST FIRE
PROTECTION COMPACT

Introduced By:
Representatives Cotter, Chippendale, Speakman, Carson, McGaw,
Kennedy, Kazarian, and Tanzi

Date Introduced:
February 11, 2026

Referred To:
House Finance
1
WHEREAS, The Northeastern Forest Fire Protection Compact (NFFPC) was established
2
in 1949, and acts as a mutual aid pact for wildfires exceeding local capabilities; and
3
WHEREAS, Currently, the NFFPC has a formal agreement among seven New England
4
states, New York, and five Canadian provinces that provides for sharing of firefighting resources,
5
technology, and training; and
6
WHEREAS, Rhode Island is an active member of the Northeastern Forest Fire Protection
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Compact (NFFPC) with the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management's Division
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of Forest Environment representing the State; and
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WHEREAS, The compact serves to facilitate cost-sharing and resource sharing during
10
emergencies, allowing states to access specialized resources without maintaining them full-time,
11
however, when a state requests aid, that state is responsible for paying the wages, salaries,
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transportation, and maintenance of the employees and equipment from the assisting state; now,
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therefore be it
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RESOLVED, That there is hereby appropriated, out of any money in the treasury not
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otherwise appropriated for the fiscal year 2026-2027, the sum of forty thousand dollars ($40,000)
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to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management for The Northeastern Forest Fire
17
Protection Compact (NFFPC); and the state controller is hereby authorized and directed to draw
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their orders upon the general treasurer for the payment of said sum, or so much thereof as may be

1
from time to time required, upon receipt of properly authenticated vouchers.
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LC005124 - Page 2 of 3
EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
J O I N T R E S O L U T I O N
MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $40,000 TO THE RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT (DEM) FOR THE NORTHEASTERN FOREST FIRE
PROTECTION COMPACT
***
1
This resolution would appropriate the sum of $40,000 to the Rhode Island Department of
2
Environmental Management.
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LC005124
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LC005124 - Page 3 of 3