2016 -- H 8075

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LC004983

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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 - FARMLAND PRESERVATION

ACT

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Naughton, Ajello, Handy, Amore, and Fogarty

     Date Introduced: April 14, 2016

     Referred To: House Environment and Natural Resources

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 42-82-5 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-82 entitled "Farmland

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Preservation Act" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     42-82-5. Duties of the commission. -- (a) The commission shall:

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      (1) Develop the criteria necessary for defining agricultural land under this chapter;

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      (2) Make a reasonably accurate inventory of all land in the state, which meets the

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definition of agricultural land;

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      (3) Prepare and adopt rules for administration of the purchase of development rights and

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criteria for the selection of parcels for which the development rights may be purchased, and the

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conditions under which they will be purchased;

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      (4) Draw up and publish the covenant and enumerate the specific development rights to

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be purchased by the state;

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      (5) Inform the owners, public officials and other citizens and interested persons of the

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provisions of this chapter; and

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      (6) Approve and submit within ninety (90) days after the end of each fiscal year, an

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annual report to the governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the

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senate, and the secretary of state of its activities during that fiscal year. The report shall provide:

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an operating statement summarizing meetings or hearings held, including meeting minutes,

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subjects addressed, decisions rendered, petitions granted, rules or regulations promulgated,

 

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studies conducted, policies and plans developed, approved, or modified, and programs

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administered or initiated; a consolidated financial statement of all funds received and expended

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including the source of the funds, a listing of any staff supported by these funds, and a summary

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of any clerical, administrative or technical support received; a summary of performance during

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the previous fiscal year including accomplishments, shortcomings and remedies; a synopsis of

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hearings, examinations and investigations or any legal matters related to the authority of the

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commission; a summary of any training courses held pursuant to subsection 42-82-5(a)(7); a

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summary of land acquired and conserved during the fiscal year; an annually updated inventory of

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all land in the state which meets the definition of agricultural land; a briefing on anticipated

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activities in the upcoming fiscal year; findings and recommendation for improvements. The

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report shall be posted electronically as prescribed in § 42-20-8.2. The director of the department

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of administration shall be responsible for the enforcement of this provision; and

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      (7) Conduct a training course for newly appointed and qualified members and new

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designees of ex officio members within six (6) months of their qualification or designation. The

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course shall be developed by the chair, approved by the commission and conducted by the

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commission. The commission may approve the use of any commission or staff members or other

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individuals to assist with training. The course shall include instruction in the following areas; the

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provisions of chapters 42-82, 42-46, 36-14, and 38-2; and the commission's rules and regulations.

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The director of the department of administration shall, within ninety (90) days of the effective

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date of this act [May 3, 2006] prepare and disseminate training materials relating to the provisions

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of chapters 42-46, 36-14 and 38-2.

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      (b) At any time after fulfilling the requirements of subsection (a), the commission, on

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behalf of the state, may acquire any development rights that may from time to time be offered by

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the owners of agricultural land. The commission may accept or negotiate at a price not in excess

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of the value established by an independent appraisal prepared for the commission, or for one of

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the commission's partners, for the respective property. Additionally, said appraisal shall be

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reviewed in a manner consistent with the rules and regulations of the commission. The value of

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the development rights for all of the purposes of this section shall be the difference between the

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value of the property for its highest and best use and its value for agricultural purposes as defined

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in this chapter. In determining the value of the property for its highest and best use, consideration

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shall be given to sales of comparable properties in the general area, use of which is unrestricted at

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the time of sale. The seller of the development rights shall have the option of accepting payment

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in full at the time of transfer or accepting payment on an installment basis in cash or with the

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principal paid by tax exempt financial instruments of the state with interest on the unpaid balance

 

LC004983 - Page 2 of 4

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equal to the interest paid by the state on bonds sold during the preceding twelve (12) month

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period. Any matter pending in the superior court may be settled by the parties subject to approval

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by a referee. At any time after a matter has been referred to a referee, even after an award is made

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by the referee, but before payment thereof, the petitioner may withdraw his or her petition upon

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payment of appraisal fees incurred by the state together with all court costs, and the award shall

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become null and void.

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      (c) Any land received acquired by purchase, devise, or as a gift may be resold by the

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commission with the development rights retained by the state and so noted by covenant in the

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deed. Any such resale by the commission shall not be subject to the right to purchase by the

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municipality in which the land is situated as provided by §37-7-5. The proceeds from that sale

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shall be returned to the agricultural land preservation fund.

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      (d) Any land received as a gift and not resold by the commission may be leased for

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agricultural uses or other uses the commission determines are not detrimental to its agricultural

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productivity. Any funds thus obtained shall be returned to the agricultural land preservation fund.

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      (e) The commission may consider petitions by the owner of land from which the state

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has purchased the development rights to repurchase those development rights from the state. The

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petition must be accompanied by a certificate from the municipalities in which the land lies

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stating that two-thirds ( 2/3) of the city or town council has approved the proposed development.

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The petition shall set forth the facts and circumstances upon which the commission shall consider

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approval, and the commission shall deny approval unless at least seven (7) of its members

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determine by vote that there is an overriding necessity to relinquish control of the development

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rights. The commission shall hold at least one public hearing in a city or town from which a

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certificate has been received, prior to its consideration of the petition, which shall be announced

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in one newspaper of local circulation. The expenses, if any, of the hearing shall be borne by the

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petitioner. If the commission approves the sale of the development rights, it shall receive the

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value of the development rights at the time of this sale, to be determined in the same manner as

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provided for by subsection (d). Proceeds of the sale shall be returned to the agricultural land

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preservation fund.

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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 STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT - FARMLAND PRESERVATION

ACT

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     This act would allow the agricultural lands preservation commission to resell land

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without being subject to the first right to purchase by the municipality in which the land is

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situated contained in existing law (§37-7-5).

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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