JOINT RESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $15,200,000 TO BE USED TO PURCHASE PFAS-FREE FIREFIGHTING GEAR (Authorizes the appropriation of the sum of $15,200,000 to cities and towns to purchase firefighter and rescue personnel protective gear which is PFAS free.)

S2376

2026 -- S 2376
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LC004566
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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 $15,200,000 TO BE USED TO PURCHASE PFAS-FREE
FIREFIGHTING GEAR

Introduced By:
Senators Felag, Burke, Tikoian, Ciccone, DiPalma, Gallo, Murray,
Lauria, Vargas, and DiMario

Date Introduced:
January 30, 2026

Referred To:
Senate Finance
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WHEREAS, Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly referred to as
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PFAS, are manmade chemicals found in a wide range of products, including, but not limited to,
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adult mattresses, air care products, clothing, cleaning products, cookware, cosmetics, and many,
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many more; and
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WHEREAS, Increasingly, research shows that long-term exposure to products containing
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PFAS creates heightened and increased health and safety risks to persons who are so exposed;
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and
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WHEREAS, By the nature of their work and the extent to which PFAS are found in more
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and more items commonly found in private households and businesses, firefighters and rescue
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personnel are particularly exposed to heightened amounts of PFAS in performing their duties as
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firefighters and rescue personnel; and
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WHEREAS, A significant percentage of current, in-use firefighter and rescue personnel
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protective gear includes PFAS substances, and that exposure to PFAS substances is increased
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when the materials containing PFAS are exposed to high temperatures, which firefighters and
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rescue personnel face on daily basis; and
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WHEREAS, There now exists recently-developed firefighter and rescue personnel
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protective gear which is PFAS free, and the use of which, while not completely eliminating the
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inherent possibility of exposure, would dramatically reduce the amount of exposure to PFAS
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substances which firefighters and rescue personnel face regularly; and

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WHEREAS, That the sum of fifteen million, two hundred thousand dollars ($15,200,000)
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would enable the purchase of PFAS free personnel protective gear for approximately two
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thousand, four hundred (2,400) professional firefighters and one thousand, four hundred (1,400)
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volunteer firefighters, across the state; now 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 fiscal year 2026-2027, the sum of fifteen million, two hundred
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thousand dollars ($15,200,000) for those cities and towns in the State of Rhode Island to purchase
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firefighter and rescue personnel protective gear which is PFAS free; and the state controller is
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hereby authorized and directed to draw his orders upon the general treasurer for the payment of
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said sum, or so much thereof as may be from time to time required, upon receipt of properly
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authenticated vouchers.
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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 $15,200,000 TO BE USED TO PURCHASE PFAS-FREE
FIREFIGHTING GEAR
***
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This joint resolution would authorize the appropriation of the sum of fifteen million, two
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hundred thousand dollars ($15,2000,000) to cities and towns to purchase firefighter and rescue
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personnel protective gear which is PFAS free.
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