2015 -- S 1025

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LC002979

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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: Senator Elaine J. Morgan

     Date Introduced: June 25, 2015

     Referred To: Placed on Senate Calendar

     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) Unless otherwise

provided herein, the owner and operator of each wholesale, retail, commercial, professional

service, and manufacturing business, whether sole proprietorships, partnership, corporations, or

any business entity, shall register their business situated in the town of Hopkinton with the tax

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

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

other basic information as required by said tax assessor.

      (b) There shall be a fee for each registration and for each annual renewal thereof. The

registration fee shall be twenty-five ($25.00) dollars. It shall be unlawful for a person to own or

operate a business described herein in the town of Hopkinton without a registration certificate

issued hereunder.

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

registrant by the tax assessor. 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. Every registration certificate shall expire the 31st day in December and shall

be renewed annually upon payment of the required fee. No certificate shall be issued or renewed

if the business fails to provide proof from the tax collector that all municipal taxes assessed to the

business, including municipal taxes assessed to any prior business owned or operated by one or

more of the principals of the registrant at the same physical location, have been paid to date.

Every certificate of registration shall be kept in a conspicuous location on the premises of each

business establishment.

      (d) Any business required to obtain a liquor, victualling, 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 requirements of this statute.

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

the provisions of this chapter, shall be fined not to exceed twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for each

month or fraction thereof that the violation continues; provided, however, that the fine shall not

exceed three hundred dollars ($300). The Rhode Island district court and the Hopkinton

municipal court shall have concurrent jurisdiction to enforce the provisions of this statute. In

addition to imposing the fines provided for herein, the Rhode Island district court and the

Hopkinton municipal court may order the closure of any business described herein until a

registration certificate is obtained. The fines shall inure to the town.

     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

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     This act would require the owner and operator of any business situated in the town of

Hopkinton to register that business with the Hopkinton tax assessor, and would impose a twenty-

five dollar ($25.00) fee for said registration.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC002979

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