S2148

	2016 -- S 2148
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	LC003909
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	STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
	IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
	JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2016
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	A N A C T
	RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- LIGHTING DISTRICT ENERGY COSTS

	Introduced By: Senators Raptakis, Lombardo, Kettle, P Fogarty, and Morgan
	Date Introduced: January 21, 2016
	Referred To: Senate Finance
	It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
1	SECTION 1. Title 23 of the General Laws entitled "HEALTH AND SAFETY" is hereby
2	amended by adding thereto the following chapter:
3	CHAPTER 94
4	LOCAL LIGHTING DISTRICT ENERGY COSTS
5	23-94-1. Findings. -- The Rhode Island general assembly finds that:
6	(1) The state of Rhode Island has an obligation to ensure that public streets are well lit for
7	safety purposes.
8	(2) The utility companies that supply the energy necessary to power the street lights
9	should be timely paid for their services.
10	(3) It has created and authorized local lighting districts to provide adequate lighting for
11	streets within its district.
12	(4) All local lighting districts have not been timely paying for the energy used to fund
13	their street lights.
14	23-94-2. State liability for local lighting districts' energy costs. -- If a legislatively
15	authorized local lighting district fails to pay the energy costs necessary to supply public street
16	lighting, then the state of Rhode Island shall pay energy suppliers' lighting bill until such time as
17	the lighting district regains its financial wellbeing.

1	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 HEALTH AND SAFETY -- LIGHTING DISTRICT ENERGY COSTS
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1	This act would require the state to pay a lighting district's energy bill, if the lighting
2	district fails to pay it.
3	This act would take effect upon passage.
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