2014 -- S 2496 SUBSTITUTE A

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LC004627/SUB A

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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 -- THE DEPARTMENT OF

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT -- BEACH FEES

     

     Introduced By: Senators E O`Neill, Cote, Ottiano, Hodgson, and Sosnowski

     Date Introduced: February 27, 2014

     Referred To: Senate Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 42-17.1-9.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-17.1 entitled

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"Department of Environmental Management" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     42-17.1-9.1. User fees at state beaches, parks, and recreation areas. -- (a) The

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department of environmental management in pursuance of its administrative duties and

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responsibilities may charge a user fee for any state beach, or recreational area under its

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jurisdiction, and fees for the use of its services or facilities.

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      (b) The fee may be on a daily or annual basis, or both, and may be based on vehicle

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parking or other appropriate means. The fees may recognize the contribution of Rhode Island

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taxpayers to support the facilities in relation to other users of the state's facilities. The fee

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structure may acknowledge the need to provide for all people, regardless of circumstances.

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      (c) An additional fee for camping and other special uses may be charged where

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appropriate. Rates so charged should be comparable to equivalent commercial facilities.

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      (d) All such fees shall be established after a public hearing. Commencing with the May

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23, 2015 beach season, beach fees shall be in accordance with subsection (h) of this section.

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      (e) All daily fees from beach parking, which shall also include fees charged and

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collected at Ninigret conservation area and Charlestown breachway, shall be shared with the

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municipality in which the facility is located on the basis of eighty-four percent (84%) seventy-

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three percent (73%) retained by the state and sixteen percent (16%) twenty-seven percent (27%)

 

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remitted to the municipality.

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      (f) Fifty percent (50%) of all user and concession fees received by the state shall be

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deposited as general revenues. For the year beginning July 1, 1979, the proportion of user and

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concession fees to be received by the state shall be sixty-five percent (65%); for the year

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beginning July 1, 1980, eighty-five percent (85%); and for the year beginning July 1, 1981, and

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all years thereafter, one hundred percent (100%). The general revenue monies appropriated are

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hereby specifically dedicated to meeting the costs of development, renovation of, and acquisition

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of state-owned recreation areas and for regular maintenance, repair and operation of state owned

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recreation areas. Purchases of vehicles and equipment and repairs to facilities shall not exceed

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four hundred thousand dollars ($400,000) annually. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 37-

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1-1 or any other provision of the general laws, the director of the department of environmental

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management is hereby authorized to accept any grant, devise, bequest, donation, gift, or

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assignment of money, bonds, or other valuable securities for deposit in the same manner as

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provided above for user and concession fees retained by the state.

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      (g) No fee shall be charged to any school or other nonprofit organization provided that a

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representative of the school or other organization gives written notice of the date and time of their

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arrival to the facility.

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     (h) For the season beginning May 23, 2015, beach parking fees shall be as follows:

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     (1) Resident season pass thirty dollars ($30.00)

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     (2) Nonresident season pass sixty dollars ($60.00)

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     (3) Resident day pass – Weekday six dollars ($6.00)

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     (4) Nonresident day pass – Weekday twelve dollars ($12.00)

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     (5) Resident day pass – Weekend seven dollars ($7.00)

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     (6) Nonresident day pass – Weekend fourteen dollars ($14.00)

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     (7) Fees charged residents and nonresidents over the age of sixty-five (65) shall be one-

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half (½) of the fees stipulated in subsections (h)(1) through (h)(6).

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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 -- THE DEPARTMENT OF

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT -- BEACH FEES

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     This act would establish beach parking rates for the season commencing May 23, 2015,

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and thereafter.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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