2014 -- S 2341

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LC004529

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO WATERS AND NAVIGATION - WATER SUPPLY PROTECTION CHARGE

     

     Introduced By: Senator V. SusanSosnowski

     Date Introduced: February 12, 2014

     Referred To: Senate Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 46-15.3-5 of the General Laws in Chapter 46-15.3 entitled "Public

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Drinking Water Supply System Protection" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     46-15.3-5. Water quality protection charge. -- (a) There is hereby imposed on each

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supplier of water, for the purpose of protecting the quality and safety of the public supply of

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water, a charge to be known as a "water quality protection charge" based upon billings for sales

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of every supplier of public drinking water at the rate of two and ninety two hundredth cents

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($.0292) per one hundred (100) gallons of each sale, whether the water is used for drinking or

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other purposes. No supplier shall impose a water quality protection charge upon sales to other

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suppliers of drinking water. Except as provided in subsections (c), (d) and (e) hereof, the supplier

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shall add any water quality protection charge imposed hereunder to the sale price, and, when

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added, the water quality protection charge shall constitute a part of the price and shall also be a

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debt from the purchaser to the supplier and be collectible in the same manner and have the benefit

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of any lien provided for the amounts due for water charges from the purchaser to the supplier.

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Provided, however, the water quality protection charge shall not be subject to the sales and use

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tax. Subject to the provisions of section 39-1.1-1 for those suppliers which are public utilities, all

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suppliers may terminate service for failure of purchasers to pay the water quality protection

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charge.

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      (b) Any water quality protection charge imposed hereunder shall not take effect earlier

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than January 1, 1989; provided, however, the increase in water quality protection charge by one

 

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and one-third cents ($0.01333) established by P.L. 1990, Ch. 65, Art. 39, section 1 shall take

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effect and be chargeable on all billings for water sales made by a supplier on and after July 1,

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1991.

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      (c) Each supplier shall provide for the exemption from the water quality protection

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charge, for any sale to a purchaser sixty-five (65) years of age and over purchasing water for the

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personal consumption of that person and other members of the person's household under

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reasonable rules and regulations.

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      (d) All commercial agricultural producers, including those who provide food and fiber,

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shall be exempt for that amount of water used to irrigate commercial crops either in fields or

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greenhouses, provided, that the producers have a conservation plan on file with their respective

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soil conservation districts.

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      (e) No water quality protection charge shall be imposed on that portion of such supplier's

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retail billing representing potable water furnished to customers by purchase of water in its

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finished, potable form from sources outside the state. The water quality protection charge

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imposed by a supplier purchasing potable water from outside the state shall be pro rata imposed

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on such supplier's retail billings for that portion of potable water supplied from within the state in

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accordance with rules and regulations to be finally promulgated by the water resources board on

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or before September 1, 1992.

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      (f) If any supplier of water fails to pay the water quality protection charge imposed upon

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it, upon determination by the water resources board of failure to pay and the amount unpaid, there

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shall be withheld from any state aid or grants of any nature due such supplier an equivalent

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amount and such monies shall be transferred to the appropriate water quality protection fund

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created under section 46-15.3-10.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO WATERS AND NAVIGATION - WATER SUPPLY PROTECTION CHARGE

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     This act would impose sales and use tax on the "Water Supply Protection Charge"

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previously imposed on water bills.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC004529

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