2016 -- S 2844

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LC004434

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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 STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT - RHODE ISLAND REGULATORY

REFORM ACT

     Introduced By: Senators Sosnowski, Archambault, Goldin, and Crowley

     Date Introduced: March 23, 2016

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Sections 42-64.13-6 and 42-64.13-9 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-

64.13 entitled "Rhode Island Regulatory Reform Act" are hereby amended to read as follows:

     42-64.13-6. Director of office of regulatory reform. – (a) The office of regulatory

reform shall be managed by a director of office of regulatory reform who shall report to the

director of the office of management and budget.

     (b) The responsibilities of the director of the office of regulatory reform include, but are

not limited to:

     (1) Providing for full municipal participation in the statewide electronic permitting

system established pursuant to §23-27.3-108.2 by December 31, 2017.

     (2) Developing and implementing a plan to expand statewide electronic permitting to

other permit management, inspections, and programs; and

     (3) Developing and implementing a plan to review existing municipal regulations and

encouraging municipalities to eliminate, consolidate, simplify, expedite, and otherwise improve

permits, permitting procedures, and paperwork burdens affecting businesses, industries, and other

matters of economic development impact in the state.

     42-64.13-9. Municipal regulatory liaison. -- Each city or town in Rhode Island may at

its option shall designate in writing submitted to the office of regulatory reform a regulatory

liaison who shall be charged with the responsibility of coordinating regulatory and permitting

matters within that city or town with the office of regulatory reform.

     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 - RHODE ISLAND REGULATORY

REFORM ACT

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     This act would set forth specific responsibilities of the director of the office of regulatory

reform and would mandate that every city and town designate, in writing, a regulatory liaison

with the office.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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