2015 -- S 0860 SUBSTITUTE A

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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 WATERS AND NAVIGATION -- THE PROVIDENCE PORT ADVISORY

COUNCIL

     

     Introduced By: Senator Maryellen Goodwin

     Date Introduced: April 28, 2015

     Referred To: Senate Commerce

     (by request)

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Title 46 of the General Laws entitled "WATERS AND NAVIGATION" is

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hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

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CHAPTER 32

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THE PROVIDENCE PORT ADVISORY COUNCIL

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     46-32-1. Short title. -- This act shall be known and may be cited as the "the Providence

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port advisory council act."

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     46-32-2. Port Advisory Council created. -- There is hereby created "the Providence port

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advisory council,” which shall be an advisory board within the Rhode Island commerce

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corporation, having the powers and jurisdiction hereinafter enumerated, and such other and

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additional powers as shall be conferred upon it by the general assembly.

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     46-32-3. Purpose. -- The purpose of this chapter is to create the Providence port advisory

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council, which shall provide advice and support with respect to coordinating and marketing the

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commercial maritime resources and port terminal facilities located in the state both physically and

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institutionally, thereby creating and enhancing an integrated land/sea transportation network with

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access to the global market place in support of the economic development needs of the state.

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     46-32-4. Board created. -- A board to be known as the Providence port advisory council

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board is hereby created. The powers of the council shall be vested in and exercised by a majority

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of the members of the board then in office.

 

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     46-32-5. Members. -- The Providence port advisory council shall consist of eight (8)

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members, six (6) of whom shall be appointed by the governor, with the advice and consent of the

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senate. Two (2) of said appointive members shall be residents of the cities and towns of the

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seacoast region or state tidal waters that are not represented on the board, one appointive member

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shall be a commercial fisherman engaged in that industry on the seacoast, and two (2) appointive

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members shall be experienced in a maritime industry. Each appointed member shall serve for a

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term of four (4) years. Said members shall serve until their successors are appointed and qualified

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members shall be eligible to succeed themselves. Any vacancy occurring in the membership of

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the appointed members shall be filled by the governor for the unexpired term. In addition to the

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six (6) appointive members, the director of the Rhode Island commerce corporation, or designee,

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and the mayor of Providence, or designee, shall be, by virtue of their offices, members of the

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council. The commissioners shall, for the purpose of doing business, constitute a board and may

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adopt suitable by-laws for its management.

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     46-32-6. Compensation of members and agents. -- The members of the board shall

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receive no compensation for the performance of their duties, but shall be entitled to

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reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of official duties.

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No part of the earnings of the authority shall inure to the benefit of any private person.

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     46-32-7. Business prohibited to members. -- No member of the board shall directly or

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indirectly engage in any contract or agreement for labor or for the supply of materials for

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construction or reconstruction of the physical assets of the authority or replacements or additions

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thereto.

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     46-32-8. Powers and duties. -- The Providence port advisory council shall be vested

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with the following powers:

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     (1) Advise the Rhode Island commerce corporation and pertinent municipalities on

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coordination and marketing of commercial maritime resources and port terminal activities.

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     (2) Seek to coordinate, assist and unify the efforts of state agencies, municipalities,

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private groups, institutions and individuals within the member ports in accord with the purposes

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of this chapter.

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     (3) Prepare, print and distribute books, maps, and pamphlets or other materials necessary

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to promote and market the commercial maritime resources and port terminal facilities of its

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member ports in accord with the purposes of this chapter.

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     46-32-9. Opt-out. – Any port or terminal operator organized under the general laws of

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this state or other organization representing the interests of a port in this state may waive funding

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and/or other administrative support from the Providence port advisory council in any given fiscal

 

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year.

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     46-32-10. Funding. -- The general assembly shall appropriate two hundred and fifty

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thousand dollars ($250,000) annually for the office and other administrative expenses, and such

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sum or sums as shall be recommended by the port advisory council and approved by the general

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assembly.

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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 WATERS AND NAVIGATION -- THE PROVIDENCE PORT ADVISORY

COUNCIL

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     This act would create the Providence port advisory council to provide advice and support

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with respect to coordinating and marketing the commercial maritime resources of all ports in the

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state.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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