RI Gen L § 37-24-5 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 37 - Public Property and Works|Chapter 37-24 - The Green Buildings Act|Section 37-24-5 - Administration and reports.

§ 37-24-5. Administration and reports.(a) The department shall promulgate such regulations as are necessary to enforce this section. Those regulations shall include how the department will determine whether a project qualifies for an exception from the LEED, LEED for Neighborhood Development, and SITES certified or equivalent high-performance green building standard, and the lesser green building standards that may be imposed on projects that are granted exceptions. Regulations for LEED for Neighborhood Development and SITES shall be promulgated after December 2020 based on the assessment by the department of up to four (4) eligible state projects selected by the department, and upon continuation of the use of LEED for Neighborhood Development, and SITES by the general assembly.(b) The department shall monitor and document ongoing operating savings that result from major facility projects designed, constructed and certified as meeting the LEED, LEED for Neighborhood Development, and SITES certified standard and annually publish a public report of findings and recommended changes in policy. The report shall also include a description of projects that were granted exceptions from the LEED, LEED for Neighborhood Development, and SITES certified standard, the reasons for exception, and the lesser green building standards imposed.(c) In order to understand the capacity and cost, the department shall test the application of LEED for Neighborhood Development and SITES for up to four (4) state projects. The department, with the assistance from the department of environmental management, shall assess the costs and benefits in accordance with subsection (d) of this section and report to the general assembly on or before December 31, 2020.(d) The annual LEED reports for 2017 through 2020 required under subsection (b) of this section shall include any assessment of costs and benefits of the LEED for Neighborhood Development and SITES standards. The purpose of the assessment is to determine whether the department shall require LEED for Neighborhood Development and SITES standards for major-facility projects beyond December 31, 2020, along with determining any exceptions from the standards that may be required.(e) The department shall create a green buildings advisory committee composed of representatives from the design, construction, lumber, and building materials industries involved in public works contracting; personnel from affected public agencies and school boards that oversee public works projects; and others at the department's discretion to provide advice on implementing this section. The advisory committee shall make recommendations regarding an education and training process and an ongoing evaluation or feedback process to help the department implement this section.(f) The provisions related to LEED for Neighborhood Development and SITES shall continue through December 31, 2020, for up to four (4) projects selected by the department, subject to evaluation and continuation by the general assembly thereafter.History of Section.P.L. 2009, ch. 212, § 1; P.L. 2017, ch. 394, § 1; P.L. 2017, ch. 418, § 1.