2013 -- S 0881

=======

LC02419

=======

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2013

____________

A N A C T

VALIDATING AND RATIFYING AMENDMENTS TO THE HOME RULE CHARTER OF

THE CITY OF CENTRAL FALLS

     Introduced By: Senator Elizabeth A. Crowley

     Date Introduced: April 25, 2013

     Referred To: Senate Housing & Municipal Government

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

1-1

     SECTION 1. In all respects in which the amendments to the Home Rule Charter of the

1-2

City of Central Falls, which amendments were adopted and approved by the electors of the City

1-3

of Central Falls on November 6, 2012, and which one amendment added a new Section 4-105 to

1-4

the Charter, providing that a Mayor shall be subject to recall provided, however that no recall

1-5

shall be permitted if the Mayor has served less than six (6) months of a first term, or has less than

1-6

six (6) months left to serve in office, and providing requirements for the recall petition, recall

1-7

election, and filling the vacancy; a second amendment to Sections 3-200, 3-400, 6-102, and 6-109

1-8

providing that regular municipal elections be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in

1-9

even-numbered years, commencing with the even-year regular municipal election to be held in

1-10

2016, so that mayoral elections will be on the same dates as national presidential elections; and a

1-11

third amendment to Section 3-502 providing that if a vacancy occurs on the City Council, then

1-12

the City Council may fill the vacancy with the unsuccessful candidate for the office from the last

1-13

regular City election who received at least thirty percent (30%) of the votes cast for that office

1-14

and if there is no eligible candidate, then there shall be a special City election to fill the vacancy,

1-15

may require ratification, confirmation, validation, or enactment by the general assembly, but in no

1-16

other respects, the provisions of said amendments to the Home Rule Charter of the City of

1-17

Central Falls are hereby ratified, confirmed, validated and enacted. It is the express intention of

1-18

the general assembly, by the passage of this act, to give effect to, ratify, confirm, validate and

1-19

enact those provisions of the said amendments to the Home Rule Charter of the City of Central

2-1

Falls which require ratification, confirmation, validation or enactment and by the passage of this

2-2

act, the legislature does hereby ratify, confirm, validate and enact said provisions, but nothing in

2-3

this act shall be construed to abrogate or impair the powers now or hereafter granted to cities and

2-4

towns by the Home Rule Amendment of the Rhode Island Constitution and other applicable laws

2-5

of the State of Rhode Island or those rights retained by said City of Central Falls in its Home Rule

2-6

Charter.

2-7

     SECTION 2. If any provision of this act, or the application thereof to the City of Central

2-8

Falls or to any person or circumstances is deemed invalid for any reason, the remainder of this

2-9

act, or the application of such provision to said town or other persons or circumstances shall not

2-10

be affected thereby, and to this end the provisions of this act are declared to be severable.

2-11

     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.

=======

LC02419

=======

EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N A C T

VALIDATING AND RATIFYING AMENDMENTS TO THE HOME RULE CHARTER OF

THE CITY OF CENTRAL FALLS

***

3-1

     This act would ratify amendments to the Central Falls Home Rule Charter approved by

3-2

the voters of Central Falls on November 6, 2012 which require ratification by the General

3-3

Assembly in order to be effective.

3-4

     This act would take effect upon passage.

=======

LC02419

=======