2014 -- S 2343

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LC004152

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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 STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT - DISTRESSED AREAS

ECONOMIC REVITALIZATION ACT

     Introduced By: Senator Christopher S.Ottiano

     Date Introduced: February 12, 2014

     Referred To: Senate Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 42-64.3-5 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-64.3 entitled

"Distressed Areas Economic Revitalization Act" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     42-64.3-5. Criteria for enterprise zone designation. -- (a) The zone shall consist of not

more than five (5) contiguous United States census tracts or portions thereof as set forth in the

most recent federal census, except that the council may add Block 101 of Census Tract 135 in the

City of Cranston to any enterprise zone abutting that Block; provided, that the addition is

approved by the city councils of Cranston and Providence; except that blocks 108, 110, and 111

of Federal Census tract 8 of the Providence II Enterprise Zone shall not be eligible for any

enterprise zone benefits, and as a replacement of those, the Council may add blocks 318, 319, and

307 of census tract 37 and block 104 of census tract 9, and blocks 105, 107 and 120 of census

tract 12, to the Providence II Enterprise Zone, provided that such addition is approved by the city

council of Providence; and, that portion of federal census tract 114.03 in the town of Cumberland

which includes any portion of the Highland II Corporate Park as approved by the Cumberland

town council and the Woonsocket city council; and, that portion of the federal census tract 173 in

the city of Woonsocket which includes the Singleton Street Mill District as approved by the

Woonsocket City Council, and federal census tract 114.02 in the town of Cumberland; except that

the council may add blocks 103, 104, 119, and 131, as well as census block group 3 of census

tract 308, may add census block groups 2 and 3 of census tract 309.01, and may delete census

block 2 of census tract 309.02 to the Mount Hope enterprise zone and those portions of federal

census tracts 113.01 and 114.03 that constitute the Ashton/Berkeley Mill Village area; except that

the council may add Census Tract 180 in the city of Woonsocket to the Woonsocket/Cumberland

Enterprise Zone as approved by the Woonsocket city council; except that the council may add

federal census tract 141 in the City of Cranston which includes the site of the former Narragansett

Brewery, as approved by the Cranston City Council and except that the council shall add the

census blocks that are along the following streets, to the Providence II Enterprise Zone

designation: Hartford Avenue from census tract 19 to the Johnston town line, Plainfield Street

from census tract 19 to the Johnston town line, and Pocasset Avenue from census tract 19 to the

Cranston city line, and further excepting that the council may add block group 1 of census tract

401.02 and delete block groups 1 and 2 of census tract 401.01 in the town of Portsmouth, as

approved by the Portsmouth town council; except that the council shall add block groups 1, 2, and

3 of federal census tract 136 and block groups 1, 2, 3 and 4 of federal census tract 137.01 and

block groups 1 and 2 of federal census tract 138 in the city of Cranston, as approved by the

Cranston city council; and except that the council may add block group 2 of federal census tract

107.01 in the city of East Providence, as approved by the East Providence city council; and

except that the council may add blocks 1069, 1070 and 1072 of federal census tract 506 in the

town of Richmond, as approved by the Richmond town council; and except that the council may

add block groups 1 and 2 of federal census tract 405 in the city of Newport, as approved by the

Newport city council; and except that the council may add blocks 20400.1, 20400.2, and 20400.3

of federal census tract 204, as approved by the West Warwick town council; and except that the

council may add federal census tracts 402, 403.02, 403.03, 403.04, and block groups 2 and 3 in

federal census tract 404 in the town of Middletown, as approved by the Middletown town

council; and except that the council may add federal census tracts 153 and 154 in the city of

Pawtucket, as approved by the Pawtucket city council; and except that the council may add

federal census block group 2 of census tract 401.01 in the town of Portsmouth as approved by the

Portsmouth town council.

      (b) The council shall promulgate any additional criteria for the designation of an

enterprise zone that the council deems appropriate. Additional criteria shall include but not be

limited to:

      (1) The poverty level within the enterprise zone as defined by the federal office of

management and budget, or the percent of households receiving public assistance; and

      (2) The unemployment level within the enterprise zone.

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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 STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT - DISTRESSED AREAS

ECONOMIC REVITALIZATION ACT

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     This act would add one additional federal census block group within the town of

Portsmouth, as a state enterprise zone under the distressed areas economic revitalization act.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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