2014 -- S 2630

========

LC004533

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

____________

A N   A C T

RELATING TO WATERS AND NAVIGATION - PUBLIC DRINKING WATER SUPPLY

SYSTEM PROTECTION

     Introduced By: Senator V. SusanSosnowski

     Date Introduced: March 04, 2014

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     (by request)

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 46-15.3-9 of the General Laws in Chapter 46-15.3 entitled "Public

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

     46-15.3-9. Collection of charges. -- (a) A record shall be maintained by every supplier

showing the amounts of water sold, and the amounts of water quality protection charges billed.

The records shall be subject to public review. The water quality protection charges shall be

deemed to be trust funds for the purposes of this chapter and shall be held in a separate account.

restricted receipt account maintained by each supplier.

      (1) For all suppliers, other than the city of Providence acting through the Providence

water supply board, or suppliers purchasing water from the city of Providence acting through the

Providence water supply board, thirty-six and one tenth percent (36.1%) of the amount billed

each month shall be remitted to the treasurer of the water resources board on or before the

twentieth (20th) day of the second month following the month of billing. transferred into the

designated restricted receipt account maintained by each supplier by the tenth (10th) day of the

month following billing.

      (2) For suppliers purchasing water from the city of Providence acting through the

Providence water supply board, for that portion of such supplier's retail billings representing

water furnished to the purchasers from the Providence water supply board, thirty-six and one

tenth percent (36.1%) of the amount billed each month shall be remitted to the Providence water

supply board, on or before the twentieth (20th) day of the second month following the month of

billing, and for that portion of such supplier's retail billings representing water furnished to the

purchasers from sources other than the Providence water supply board, thirty-six and one tenth

percent (36.1%) of the amount billed each month shall be remitted to the treasurer of the water

resources board on or before the twentieth (20th) day of the second month following the month of

billing. transferred into the designated restricted receipt account maintained by each supplier by

the tenth (10th) day of the month following billing.

      (3) The amounts remitted by suppliers purchasing water from the city of Providence to

the Providence water supply board and treasurer of the water resources board those amounts

being transferred to restricted receipt accounts pursuant to the previous sentence this section shall

be based pro rata on metered water production originating from the Providence water supply

board and from all other sources in accordance with rules and regulations to be finally

promulgated by the water resources board on or before September 1, 1992.

      (b) For all suppliers, including the city of Providence acting through the Providence

water supply board, fifty-seven percent (57.0%) of the amount billed each month shall be

remitted through the water resources board to the general treasurer of the state of Rhode Island on

or before the twentieth (20th) day of the second month following the month of billing and shall be

deposited as general revenues.

      (c) All suppliers may disburse the six and nine tenths percent (6.9%) of the charges

collected and retained by the supplier as an administrative charge for any purpose relating to the

operation of the supplier. All suppliers shall use or pledge the thirty-six and one tenth percent

(36.1%) of the charges to pay principal or interest on bonds, notes, or other obligations issued for

the purposes of this chapter or lease payments in connection with any bonds, notes, or

obligations. It shall not be necessary for any supplier of public drinking water whose rates may be

regulated by the public utilities commission, pursuant to chapter 1 of title 39, to obtain approval

from the commission for billing of the water quality protection charge. The public utilities

commission shall not, in determining rates for any supplier hereunder, consider the funds billed

hereunder when determining revenue requirements for the supplier.

      (d) In no event shall any supplier be responsible to collect or pay more than a single

water quality protection charge with respect to water sold by such supplier, whether the date of

sale was on, before, or after July 1, 1992.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

========

LC004533

========

LC004533 - Page 2 of 2

EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO WATERS AND NAVIGATION - PUBLIC DRINKING WATER SUPPLY

SYSTEM PROTECTION

***

     This act would make a number of changes in the procedure for the remittance of water

charges.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

========

LC004533

========

LC004533 - Page 3 of 2