Rhode Island General Laws Title 42. State Affairs and Government § 42-17.9-5. Rulemaking by the department

(a) The department of environmental management, in consultation with the department of administration, shall by March 15, 2007, establish by rule, integrated standards and guidelines for preserving and protecting the state's interest in open space values; the department shall report on or before January 15, 2007, to the speaker of the house, the president of the senate, the chairperson of the house committee on environment and natural resources and the chairperson of the senate committee on environment and agriculture on the status of the development of said standards and guidelines.

(b) Said standards and guidelines shall set forth and provide for the implementation of criteria for evaluating actions that would convey or amend state interests or constitute changes in use of state-owned and managed property requiring the approval of the department of administration or the state properties committee. Said criteria shall provide at a minimum:

(c) Said standards and guidelines may provide for a determination that a parcel other than a parcel acquired or managed for open space purposes or natural resources values does not have significant open space value or that a specific amendment or change in use or type of use would not have a significant impact on open space values, in which case the use of standards, guidelines, and evaluation criteria as provided for in §§ 42-17.9-6 and 42-17.9-7 shall not be required.

(d) Said standards and guidelines shall be reviewed by the department at least once every five (5) years and shall either be amended or affirmed by the department as appropriate.