2015 -- H 6081

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LC002475

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- GENERAL POWERS

     Introduced By: Representative Brian P. Kennedy

     Date Introduced: April 15, 2015

     Referred To: House Municipal Government

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Chapter 45-2 of the General Laws entitled "General Powers" is hereby

amended by adding thereto the following section:

     45-2-31.5. Business registration fee -- Town of Hopkinton. – (a) All wholesale, retail,

commercial, professional service or manufacturing businesses, whether sole proprietorships,

partnerships, corporations or any other for-profit or not-for-profit business entity, shall register

their business, company, trade or office situated in the town of Hopkinton with the town clerk of

the town of Hopkinton. Each registration shall contain the name of the firm or business, the name

of the owner(s) or operator(s) of the firm or business, the type of business to be conducted, and

such other basic information as shall be determined by town ordinance.

     (b) There shall be a fee for each registration. The registration fee shall be set by town

ordinance.

     (c)(1) No registration shall be issued or renewed for any person, group, agency or

corporation with a legal interest in the registration sought or the real or personal property to be

used in conjunction with the registration sought ("applicant") who is currently in arrears in any

tax or other assessment levied by the town, including municipal taxes assessed to any prior

business owned or operated by one or more applicant. Further, no registration shall be issued or

renewed where any tax or assessment levied by the town is due and in arrears on any real or

personal property used, or to be used, in connection with the business operation to which any

such registration is applicable.

     (2) Upon registration of a business, a registration certificate shall be issued to the

applicant. Every certificate of registration shall be placed in a conspicuous location in each

business establishment.

     (3) Every registration certificate shall expire the first day of December and shall be

renewed annually upon payment of the required fee. A business that changes its address shall be

required to obtain a new registration certificate.

     (4) No other business of the same trade name shall be allowed to register once a

certificate of registration has been issued without the approval of the prior registrant in writing.

     (d) Any business required to obtain a liquor, victualing or any other license to operate

under any other section of the general laws, a condition of which is the prior payment of

Hopkinton municipal taxes, shall be exempt from the requirement of this statute.

     (e) Businesses operating in Hopkinton on the effective date of an ordinance adopted

pursuant to the authority of this statute shall be required to register within sixty (60) days of the

day the ordinance takes effect. Any ordinance passed under this section shall be deemed as

retroactive, in its application so that it applies to each person, persons, corporation, partnership, or

other business entity already transacting or conducting business in the town.

     (f) Any person, whether as principal, agent, employee, or otherwise, who violates any of

the provisions of this chapter, shall be fined not to exceed one hundred dollars ($100) per day for

each offense. Any fine imposed under this statute and/or the ordinance promulgated by the town

council pursuant to this section may be appealed to the Hopkinton municipal court. In addition to

imposing the fines provided for herein, the municipal court may order the closure of any business

described herein until a registration certificate is obtained. The fines shall inure to the town and

each day that the violation continues shall be deemed to constitute a separate offense.

     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 TOWNS AND CITIES -- GENERAL POWERS

***

     This act would require business entities located in the town of Hopkinton to register with

the town clerk, upon payment of a fee and the providing of certain information as determined by

town ordinance.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC002475

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