2015 -- S 0524

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LC001902

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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 PUBLIC FINANCE - STATE BUDGET

     Introduced By: Senators Archambault, and Lombardi

     Date Introduced: February 26, 2015

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 35-3-7.2 of the General Laws in Chapter 35-3 entitled "State

Budget" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     35-3-7.2. Budget officer as capital development officer. -- The budget officer shall be a

capital development program officer who shall be responsible for:

      (1) The review of all capital development requests submitted by the various state

departments, as set forth in chapter 6 of title 42, which shall include all independent boards and

commissions and the capital development plans of the Narragansett Bay Commission, Rhode

Island Clean Water Finance Agency, the Lottery Commission, and all other public corporations,

as defined in chapter 18 of this title which plans would be subject to the provisions of § 35-18-3;

provided, that, except as provided for in this section, nothing in this section shall be construed to

apply to the judiciary in accordance with §§ 35-3-1(c), 35-3-4(a) and 35-3-5 or limit the powers

of the board of governors for higher education as outlined in chapter 59 of title 16. Capital

development requests and plans shall be submitted in such form, with such explanation, in such

number of copies, and by such date as the budget officer may require. Copies shall also be

provided directly to the house fiscal advisor and the senate fiscal advisor.

      (2) Preparation of a capital budget which shall specify which capital items are proposed

for presentation to the electorate at the next general election.

      (3) The activities which will promote capital development planning and develop criteria

which can be used to determine appropriate levels of bonded indebtedness.

      (4) Acting as chairperson of the capital development planning and oversight commission

which is to be appointed by the governor. The commission, in addition to recommending to the

governor the biennial capital budget, shall implement a long range capital development planning

process and shall be responsible for the development of an inventory of state assets to determine

the need and prioritization of capital improvements.

      (5) Assisting the judiciary in the development of that portion of the judiciary's capital

development program involving annual general revenues.

      (5)(6) Working with the board of governors for higher education in the development by

the board of that portion of the board's capital development program involving annual general

revenues.

     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 PUBLIC FINANCE - STATE BUDGET

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     This act would provide that the judiciary's budget would be exempt from control by the

budget officer of the capital development planning commission and that the budget officer would

only have the authority to assist the judiciary in the development of its budget.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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