2016 -- H 7924

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LC005356

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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 WATERS AND NAVIGATION -- DRINKING WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM

PROTECTION

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Messier, Barros, Johnston, and Coughlin

     Date Introduced: March 10, 2016

     Referred To: House Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 46-15.3-10 of the General Laws in Chapter 46-15.3 entitled "Public

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Drinking Water Supply System Protection" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     46-15.3-10. Water quality protection funds. -- (a) (1) There are hereby created three (3)

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two (2) classes of water quality protection funds: one of which shall be administered by and be in

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the custody of the treasurer of the water resources board and maintained by each supplier that

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produces water from its own sources, and/or pays directly to the water resources board, and one

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of which shall be administered by and be in the custody of the city of Providence acting through

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the Providence water supply board, and one of which shall be in the custody of the general

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treasurer. The first two (2) mentioned funds shall consist of such amounts as the state or the city

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of Providence may from time to time appropriate, all water quality protection charges other than

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the six and nine tenths percent (6.9%) and fifty-seven percent (57.0%) portions referred to in §

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46-15.3-9, proceeds from the sale of bonds and notes, as provided in subsection (b) below, and

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any money which may have been obtained as grants, bequests, donations, gifts, or fines which are

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intended to be used for purposes consistent with this chapter. This third mentioned fund shall be

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hereby established as a general revenue receipt account known as the "water resources operating

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fund".

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      (2) The general revenue appropriations made available from the general revenue receipts

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credited to "Water Resources Operating Fund" shall be used for the administration and support of

 

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the water resources board.

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      (b) The water resources board shall borrow money and issue its notes and bonds therefor,

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for the purposes set forth in this chapter, and pursuant to the authority and the procedures set forth

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in chapter 15.1 of this title, which shall be secured by pledging or assigning, in whole or in part,

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the revenues and other monies held or to be deposited in the water quality protection funds and

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any other revenues derived under this chapter.

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      (c) Any supplier with its own water quality protection fund may borrow money, and/or

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issue its bonds or notes therefor, or may lease public facilities or public equipment for the

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purposes set forth in this chapter. The supplier must secure any borrowings, bonds, notes, or

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leases by pledging or assigning, in whole or in part, the revenues and other monies held by it in

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its own water quality protection fund.

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      (d) All amounts in the water quality protection fund, water quality protection charges,

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and any other revenues of the water resources board, excluding those deposited as general

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revenues, received under the provisions of this chapter shall be deemed to be trust funds to be

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held and applied solely as provided in this chapter and chapter 15.1 of this title.

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      (e) Any money which may accumulate in the water quality protection funds, which is in

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excess of that pledged to repayment of outstanding bonds or notes or lease payments or loan

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repayments at any given time, may be used directly for eligible expenditures from the fund and

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shall be disbursed for these purposes in accordance with § 46-15.3-11.

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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 -- DRINKING WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM

PROTECTION

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     This act would classify the two (2) types of water quality protection funds and would

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provide for the administration of the funds deposited therein by either the water supplier or the

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city of Providence.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC005356

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