2017 -- H 5783

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LC001623

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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 - DEPARTMENT OF

TRANSPORTATION

     Introduced By: Representatives Carson, Ruggiero, Phillips, and Tanzi

     Date Introduced: March 01, 2017

     Referred To: House Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Chapter 42-13 of the General Laws entitled "Department of Transportation"

is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

     42-13-2.1. Duties of the department - Rhode works project.

     (a) It shall be the responsibility of the department to identify the specific impact of Rhode

Works projects on small businesses to deliver and communicate it to the department of

commerce. The department shall identify the traffic flow to Rhode Island small business

commercial areas as it relates to road and bridge closings due to Rhode Works projects, identify

road and bridge closings, parking restrictions and alterations in traffic patterns to accommodate

road and bridge repairs, including proposed dates of work, road closure and re-routing of any

traffic and parking patterns.

     (b) The department shall share the information collected in subsection (a) of this section

with the commerce corporation to allow at least four (4) months for the commerce corporation to

review this information, and assist those businesses affected by Rhode Works projects, by

providing strategic and marketing assistance as necessary, and sharing this information with small

businesses in the affected communities and neighborhoods.

     (c) The commerce corporation shall provide those affected businesses in the construction

areas with actions to provide support to minimize the economic and financial impact upon those

businesses during road and bridge construction, including, but not limited to, mailing by the

commerce corporation to affected businesses and meeting with affected businesses to review

business plans during construction.

     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 - DEPARTMENT OF

TRANSPORTATION

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     This act would require the department of transportation to identify the impact of Rhode

Works projects on Rhode Island small businesses commercial areas and provide the commerce

corporation with that information to allow the commerce corporation sufficient time to provide

the affected businesses with support to minimize the economic and financial impact.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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