Title 2, Title 2 and Forestry

This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Industrial Hemp Growth Act.”

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, if the chairperson of the commission, or the chairperson’s designee, has cause to believe that a violation of any provision of this chapter or any regulations promulgated hereunder has occurred by a licensee who or that is …

The general assembly finds and declares as follows: (1) The cannabis sativa plant used for the production of hemp is separate and distinct from forms of cannabis used to produce marijuana. (2) Hemp is used for products such as building materials, cloth, cordage, fiber, food, floo…

When used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the following meanings: (1) “Applicant” means any person, firm, corporation, or other legal entity who or that, on his, her, or its own behalf, or on behalf of another, has applied for permission to engage in any act or ac…

Hemp is an agricultural product that may be grown as a crop, produced, possessed, distributed, sold at retail, and commercially traded pursuant to the provisions of this chapter. Hemp is subject to primary regulation by the commission. The division may assist the commission in th…

(a) The commission shall prescribe rules and regulations for the licensing and regulation of hemp growers, handlers, licensed CBD distributors, and licensed CBD retailers and persons employed by the applicant not inconsistent with law, to carry into effect the provisions of this …

(a) The commission shall adopt rules to provide for the implementation of this chapter, which shall include rules to require hemp to be tested during growth for THC levels and to require inspection of hemp during sowing, growing season, harvest, storage, and processing. Included …

(a) Except as provided in this section, the commission shall accept the application for licensure to cultivate hemp submitted by the applicant. (b) A person or entity, licensed by the commission pursuant to this chapter, shall allow hemp crops, throughout sowing, year-long growin…

(a) The commission shall adopt rules regarding permissible methods of extraction. (b) No butane method of extraction shall be permitted by the commission.

(a) The commission is authorized to certify any higher educational institution in Rhode Island to grow or handle, or assist in growing or handling, industrial hemp for the purpose of agricultural or academic research where such higher educational institution submits the following…

(a) The general assembly recognizes that forest land in the state has many important values, including, but not limited to: clean air, clean water, economic importance, climate change mitigation, habitat, and supporting human health and well-being. Forest land should be maintaine…

As used in this chapter; (1) “Department” means the department of environmental management. (2) “Director” means the director of the department of environmental management, unless otherwise specified. (3) “Forest-based business” means the inclusion of all the activities that go i…

(a)(1) There is established the forest conservation commission consisting of the directors of the department of environmental management and the department of administration, or their respective designees; and nine (9) public members to be appointed by the director of the departm…

The commission has the power to: (1) Retain by contract or employ counsel, auditors, engineers, appraisers, private consultants and advisors, or other personnel needed to provide necessary services; (2) Request the assistance of staff from the department or other state agencies o…

The commission shall: (1) Develop the criteria necessary for defining the most important forest land under this chapter; (2) Make a reasonably accurate inventory of all land in the state that meets the definition of forest land; (3) Inform the public, public officials, and other …

(a) There is hereby established a forest land conservation fund. (b) The fund may be utilized for purposes consistent with this chapter. (c) The fund shall consist of the following sources: (1) Sums the legislature may appropriate; (2) Monies received from federal, state, or othe…

If any provisions of this chapter or of any rule, regulation, or order made under this chapter, or the application of this chapter to any person or circumstances, is held invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remainder of this chapter, rule, regulation, or order, and …

This chapter may be cited as the “Interstate Pest Control Compact.”

The Interstate Compact on pest control is hereby enacted into law and entered into with all other jurisdictions in form substantially as follows: Article I Findings The party states find that: (a) In the absence of the higher degree of cooperation among them possible under this c…

Consistent with law and within available appropriations, the departments, agencies and officers of this state may cooperate with the insurance fund established by the pest control compact.

Pursuant to Article IV(h) of the compact, copies of bylaws and amendments thereto shall be filed with the secretary of state of Rhode Island.

The compact administrator for this state shall be the director of the department of environmental management. The duties of the compact administrator are deemed a regular part of the duties of the department.

Within the meaning of subdivision (b) of Article VI or subdivision (a) of Article VIII of this compact, a request or application for assistance from the insurance fund may be made by the compact administrator, whenever in his or her judgment the conditions qualifying this state f…

The state department, agency, or officer expending or becoming liable for an expenditure on account of a control or eradication program undertaken or intensified pursuant to the compact shall have credited to his account, in the state treasury, the amount or amounts of any paymen…

As used in this compact, with reference to this state, the term “executive head” shall mean the governor.

This chapter shall be known by the short title of “The Rhode Island nursery law”.

Every dealer, before offering nursery stock for sale or distribution or soliciting orders for nursery stock in Rhode Island, shall obtain a dealer’s license for each place of business from the department. The license expires on March 31 of each year, and application for renewal o…

The director may withhold, suspend or revoke any license or certificate of inspection provided that upon ten (10) days’ notice, in writing, forwarded by registered or certified mail to the applicant or holder of the license or certificate, stating the contemplated action and in g…

The director may grant or reinstate any license or certificate of inspection which has been withheld, suspended or revoked if the conditions which incited the withholding, suspension or revocation have been corrected and the director is satisfied, as a result of investigation, th…

Every agent selling or soliciting orders for nursery stock in Rhode Island must be registered with the department by his or her principal.

(a) Nursery workers, dealers, or other persons residing or doing business in another state, desiring to sell or solicit orders for nursery stock in this state, are, upon complying with all other provisions of this chapter and all rules and regulations promulgated under this chapt…

Nonresident nursery workers, dealers and other persons, wishing to ship nursery stock into Rhode Island, whether or not licensed as dealers in Rhode Island, shall first file with the director a copy of a valid, unexpired certificate showing that the stock sold by that person has …

(a) No collected plants shall be transported within this state or placed in any nursery or in close proximity to any certified nursery stock unless they have first been inspected and found to be apparently free of injurious insects and plant disease. Inspection of collected plant…

The licensing and registration requirements of this chapter do not apply to any licensed arborist, landscape architect, private gardener, or servant on private estates, whose function is that of providing services, when obtaining or transporting certified nursery stock for which …

(a) All nursery stock shipped into this state from any country, state, commonwealth, province, territory, or the District of Columbia, shall bear on each box, package, bale, container, bundle, or other unit, a certificate of inspection, its facsimile, or an official tag, stating …

No transportation company or common carrier shall accept for transportation within this state, or deliver any box, bundle, package, bale, container, or other unit containing or consisting of nursery stock to any consignee within the state, unless the container or package has atta…

For the purpose of this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires: (1) “Agent” means any person under the partial or full control of a nursery worker, dealer or other agent, who sells or solicits orders for nursery stock, not from a supply at hand, at a place other than a nu…

The director has the power to inspect at the point of destination all nursery stock coming into the state, whether under certificate or not, and should the stock be found infested with any injurious insects or plant diseases, he or she shall cause it to be destroyed, returned to …

The director may designate by rule or regulation any fumigation or other disinfestation or disinfection procedures, the carrying out of which, when certified to, or sworn to, in a manner and under any conditions that he or she specifies, will be acceptable to him or her in place …

It is unlawful for any person to misrepresent, by name or otherwise, that he or she is a nursery worker or conducts a nursery business when this is not the case. This shall not apply to any person, firm, or corporation on record as doing business and building good will under this…

It is the duty of the director of environmental management to enforce the provisions of this chapter, and all other laws for the inspection of orchards, nurseries, and other trees and shrubs and the protection of these objects from injurious insects and plant diseases.

The director is authorized and empowered: (1) To make rules and regulations for carrying out the provisions of this chapter; (2) To employ any assistants necessary to enable him or her to discharge his or her duty in carrying out the provisions of this chapter; and (3) To grant s…

(a) One-fifth (⅕) of all license fees received by the director under the provisions of this chapter shall be paid over to the general treasurer and deposited within the general fund, and four-fifths (⅘) of the funds collected shall be deposited into a separate fund within the gen…

Any person affected by any order made or served pursuant to this chapter may have a review of the order by the director and from his or her decision may appeal to the courts for the purpose of having the order modified or suspended. Application for review may be made to the direc…

Any person who violates any of the provisions of this chapter with reference to: (1) The sale, distribution, receipt or delivery of nursery stock which has not been inspected and certified; (2) The sale or offering for sale of nursery stock without first obtaining a license as pr…

All prosecutions of violations under the provisions of this chapter shall be instituted by the director and be directed by him or her, and all penalties recovered for the violation of any provisions of this chapter shall be paid into the treasury of the state. In prosecutions for…