2017 -- H 5478 SUBSTITUTE A

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT - RHODE ISLAND SAILING

EVENTS COMMISSION

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Marshall, McNamara, Diaz, Carson, and Kennedy

     Date Introduced: February 15, 2017

     Referred To: House Small Business

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Legislative Findings.

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     (1) Rhode Island has had a long history of yacht racing, was home of the designers and

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builders of the fastest and most elegant sailboats of the Gilded Age and was the site of the

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America's Cup defense from 1930 to 1983.

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     (2) Rhode Island has a worldwide reputation as an excellent venue for sailing and boating

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events, including the National One-Design Championship, the Newport to Bermuda Race and the

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Single-Handed Trans-Atlantic Ocean Race.

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     (3) Rhode Island is home to highly developed marine facilities, such as the Newport

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Shipyard, Melville Marina and numerous yacht clubs based in the seventeen (17) coastal

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communities.

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     (4) Major improvements to the facilities at Fort Adams State Park provide critical support

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for championship sailing in Rhode Island while attracting and enhancing large-scale competitive

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sailing events to the state.

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     (5) These improvements and coordinated efforts of state and private organizations have

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helped attract new international championship racing events, including the Volvo Around the

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World Ocean Race in 2018.

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     (6) The sport of sailing has changed dramatically since 1980 when the Rhode Island State

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Yachting Committee was formed, with sailing events attracting larger audiences, generating

 

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greater economic impact and needing increased support from state and host communities.

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     SECTION 2. TITLE 42 of the General Laws entitled "State Affairs and Government" is

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hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

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CHAPTER 159

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RHODE ISLAND SAILING EVENTS COMMISSION

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     42-159-1. Short title.

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     This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Rhode Island Sailing Events

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Commission."

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     42-159-2. Creation of the commission.

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     There is hereby created and established a permanent commission to be known as the

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Rhode Island Sailing Events Commission hereinafter referred to as the "commission."

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     42-159-3. Membership of the commission.

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     (a) The commission shall consist of nineteen (19) members as follows:

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     (1) The director of the department of environmental management, or designee;

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     (2) The president of the Narragansett Bay Yacht Association, or designee;

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     (3) The chief executive officer of US Sailing, or designee;

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     (4) The chief executive officer of SAIL TO PREVAIL, or designee;

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     (5) The Southern Regional Director of the New England Inter-Collegiate Sailing

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Association, or designee;

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     (6) The executive director of Sail Newport, or designee;

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     (7) The president/chief executive officer of Discover Newport, or designee;

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     (8) The chairperson of the board of directors of the Rhode Island Marine Trades

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Association (RIMTA), or designee;

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     (9) A representative of the city of Newport, to be appointed by the mayor of the city of

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Newport;

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     (10) One representative each from four (4) Rhode Island yacht clubs, to be appointed by

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the president of the Narragansett Bay Yachting Association; and

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     (11) Six (6) representatives from the general public, three (3) of whom shall be appointed

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by the speaker of the house of representatives, one of whom shall be appointed for a term of one

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year, one of whom shall be appointed for a term of two (2) years and one of whom shall be

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appointed for a term of three (3) years; and three (3) of whom shall be appointed by the president

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of the senate, one of whom shall be appointed for a term of one year, one of whom shall be

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appointed for a term of two (2) years and one of whom shall be appointed for a term of three (3)

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years.

 

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     (b) The chair of the commission shall be elected from among the membership by the

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commission members. In the event of the absence or disability of the chairperson, the members

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of the commission shall elect a temporary chairperson by a majority vote of those present and

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voting.

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     (c) Should any member cease to be an officer or employee of the unit or agency they are

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appointed to represent, their membership on the commission shall terminate immediately. Any

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vacancy on the commission shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.

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     (d) Ten (10) members of the commission shall constitute a quorum.

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     42-159-4. Terms of office.

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     The members shall serve until their successors are appointed and qualified.

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     42-159-5. Purpose.

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     The commission is created and established to identify, evaluate, and provide

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recommendations to assist nationally and internationally recognized sailing and marine events,

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both amateur and professional, and to attract and encourage activity in Rhode Island. In addition,

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the commission shall advise state and local leaders on the suitability and practicality of hosting

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qualified marine events in the state.

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     42-159-6. Authority.

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     (a) The commission is authorized to accept and empowered to accept and expend funds

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made available by the United States government or any agency thereof, in order to carry out the

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commission's efforts to manage financial support for sailing events. In coordination with the

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Rhode Island Sailing Foundation, the commission is authorized to solicit grants and charitable

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funds or in-kind contributions from public and private individuals and organizations to fund

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projects and programs. The proceeds of grants received shall be paid to the general treasurer of

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the state and be deposited by them in a separate fund to be utilized for the purposes of those

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grants, and in the manner and degree as shall be deemed to be in the best interest of the state.

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     (b) The allocation of any funds received shall be decided by a majority vote of voting

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members in attendance at a meeting duly convened for the conduct of business by the

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commission.

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     SECTION 3. 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 SAILING

EVENTS COMMISSION

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     This act would create the Rhode Island Sailing Events Commission in order to attract

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amateur and professional marine events in Rhode Island. The commission would advise state and

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local leaders on the suitability of hosting such activities.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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