2014 -- S 3088

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LC005191

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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 MILITARY AFFAIRS AND DEFENSE - NATIONAL SECURITY

INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORT FUND

     

     Introduced By: Senators DiPalma, Felag, Algiere, and Ottiano

     Date Introduced: June 11, 2014

     Referred To: Senate Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Sections 30-32-4, 30-32-5, 30-32-6 and 30-32-7 of the General Laws in

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Chapter 30-32 entitled "National Security Infrastructure Support Fund" are hereby amended to

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read as follows:

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     30-32-4. Administration of funds. – (a) The commerce corporation is designated as the

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public corporation to administer the national security infrastructure support fund and may receive

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annual funding from appropriations made for that purpose. The national security infrastructure

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support fund shall be administered by the economic development corporation. The funds shall be

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separately identified with corresponding revenues and expenses within the financial statements of

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the economic development commerce corporation. No charges or fees for the operating expenses

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of the fund, such as legal fees or appraisals related to a specific transaction, shall be allocated

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from the fund to the economic development commerce corporation.

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     (b) Within the national security infrastructure support fund, two (2) distinct grant

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programs shall be established to carry out the legislative intent of the fund. They shall be known

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as the:

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     (1) Military facility protection program ("MFPP"), and

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     (2) The defense economy community reinvestment program ("DECRP").

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     30-32-5. Allocation of funds. –Military facility protection program. – (a) The purpose

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of this fund is to address emergent needs relating to mission sustainment, encroachment reduction

 

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or prevention, and base retention. All funds appropriated for the purposes of this program are

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eligible to be used for matching of federal funds.

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     (b) The specific allocation of the funds shall be determined by the economic development

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commerce corporation, after consultation with the fund's advisory board, and within the following

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program guidelines:

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      (a) (1) To provide grants and loans to improve water, sewer, electric, gas, roads, rail

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systems, runways, navigational, or security systems relating to the support of national security

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infrastructures located within the state;

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      (b) (2) To secure real estate and tangible property, as well as non-conservation lands,

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that can to be used for expansion or to protect against encroachment around national security

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installations within the state;

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     (3) To support best practices in energy efficiency savings initiatives at military facilities,

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including renewable energy applications;

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     (4) To support innovative public/private partnerships in military facility operations,

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including utility, housing, purchasing, and transportation services; and

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      (c) (5) To provide grants to increase the mission-related capabilities of the national

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security infrastructures located within the state.

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     30-32-6. Priority of funding. -- Priority of funding shall be given to allocations that

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provide at least a twenty percent (20%) match or supplement funds from other sources.

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     30-32-7. Reports. -- The economic development commerce corporation shall provide the

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general assembly with a biennial report documenting the allocation and uses of money from this

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fund.

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     SECTION 2. Chapter 30-32 of the General Laws entitled "National Security

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Infrastructure Support Fund" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following sections:

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     30-32-5.1. Defense economy community reinvestment program. – (a) The purpose of

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this fund is to assist defense-dependent municipalities to develop and implement alternative

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economic diversification strategies that repurpose surplus defense facilities and properties. All

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funds appropriated for the purposes of this program are eligible to be used for matching of federal

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funds.

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     (b) The specific allocation of the funds shall be determined by the commerce corporation

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after consultation with the fund's advisory board and within the following program guidelines:

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     (1) Eligible applicants include defense-dependent municipalities and regions and local

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economic development organizations located within such communities. The program shall be

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administered by the commerce corporation and grant awards may be provided to support

 

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community-based activities that:

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     (i) Assist communities in defense-dependent municipalities and regions to plan, analyze,

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and develop transitional strategies that maximize uses for surplus defense properties;

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     (ii) Diversify and further commercialize the local economy of a defense-dependent

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community; and

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     (iii) Encourage the development of public/private partnerships focused within the high

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growth fields of information technology, cyber security, engineering, and advanced

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manufacturing.

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     30-32-8. National security infrastructure support fund advisory commission. – (a)

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There shall be established a permanent advisory board that shall consist of seven (7) members:

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     (1) One of whom shall be the secretary of commerce or his or her designee;

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     (2) Two (2) of whom shall be the co-chairs of the Rhode Island defense economy

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planning commission;

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     (3) Four (4) of whom shall be representatives of defense dependent communities, one

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named by the speaker of the house, one named by the senate president, one named by the

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minority leader of the house, and one named by the minority leader of the senate; and

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     (4) Additionally, the co-chairpersons may designate additional non-voting, ad hoc

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members whose technical expertise may be needed based upon national security infrastructure

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investment issues pending or projects submitted to the fund.

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     (b) This board shall be purely advisory and shall meet whenever a quorum of four (4)

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shall deem it necessary or at the request of the secretary when grant rounds are contemplated or in

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process.

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     (c) The co-chairs of the Rhode Island defense economy planning commission shall chair

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the advisory commission and its meetings.

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     (d) The advisory commission shall meet at the call of the chairpersons.

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     (e) The members of the board shall serve for a period of three (3) years.

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     (f) The purpose of this commission shall be to identify potential projects and to assist the

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secretary of commerce in evaluating projects for funding under the provisions of this chapter.

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     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO MILITARY AFFAIRS AND DEFENSE - NATIONAL SECURITY

INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORT FUND

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     This act would create the military facility protection program and the defense economy

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community reinvestment program and would establish a national security infrastructure support

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fund advisory commission.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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