2015 -- S 0109

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LC000154

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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 STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- DISTRESSED AREAS

ECONOMIC REVITALIZATION ACT

     

     Introduced By: Senators Walaska, Lynch, and McCaffrey

     Date Introduced: January 22, 2015

     Referred To: Senate Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Portsmouth town council; and except that the council may add that portion of block 4018 of

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federal census tract 223, that constitutes the Pontiac Mills site located along the Pawtuxet River in

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the city of Warwick, as approved by the Warwick city council.

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

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

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limited to:

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

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

 

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      (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 permit the Pontiac Mills site in Warwick to be approved as an enterprise

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zone.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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