2017 -- S 0897

========

LC002684

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

____________

A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT - AFFORDABLE HOUSING

OPPORTUNITY

     

     Introduced By: Senators Gallo, and Lombardi

     Date Introduced: May 11, 2017

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

1

     SECTION 1. Section 42-11.2-11 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-11.2 entitled

2

"Affordable Housing Opportunity" is hereby amended to read as follows:

3

     42-11.2-11. Tenant eligibility.

4

     (a) In order to be eligible to reside in a unit assisted under this chapter, the tenant must be

5

a low-income family as defined in ยง 42-11.2-3.

6

     (b) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, a tenant is eligible to reside in a unit

7

assisted under this chapter if:

8

     (1) The tenant was a low-income family at the time the tenant initially moved into the

9

unit assisted under this chapter; or

10

     (2) The tenant resided in the unit assisted under this chapter at the time that the unit first

11

became assisted under this chapter.

12

     (c)(1) Any facility that operates in any manner as a homeless shelter and is located on

13

state property that can accommodate up to five (5) homeless individuals shall not permit more

14

than one bed to be utilized by persons registered, or who are required to register, as a sex offender

15

under the laws of this state or of any other jurisdiction.

16

     (2) Any facility that operates in any manner as a homeless shelter and is located on state

17

property that can accommodate not less than six (6) nor more than twenty (20) homeless

18

individuals shall not permit more than two (2) beds to be utilized by persons registered, or who

 

1

are required to register, as a sex offender under the laws of this state or of any other jurisdiction.

2

     (3) Any facility that operates in any manner as a homeless shelter and is located on state

3

property which can accommodate at least twenty-one (21) and no more than fifty (50) homeless

4

individuals shall not permit more than five (5) of the beds in the facility to be utilized to shelter

5

persons who are registered, or are required to register, as a sex offender under the laws of this

6

state or of any other jurisdiction.

7

     (4) Any facility that operates in any manner as a homeless shelter and located on state

8

property which can accommodate more than fifty (50) homeless individuals shall not permit more

9

than ten percent (10%) of the beds in the facility to be utilized to shelter persons who are

10

registered, or are required to register, as a sex offender under the laws of this state or of any other

11

jurisdiction.

12

     (5) The state shall not establish nor maintain any homeless shelter within a thousand feet

13

(1,000') of a homeless shelter in existence as of January 1, 2017.

14

     (6) None of the limitations and restrictions in subsections (c)(1) through (c)(5) shall apply

15

to any health care facility.

16

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on January 1, 2018.

========

LC002684

========

 

LC002684 - Page 2 of 3

EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT - AFFORDABLE HOUSING

OPPORTUNITY

***

1

     This act would prevent registered sex offenders from forming more than ten percent

2

(10%) of the population of residential facilities receiving state funding or assistance, with certain

3

exceptions.

4

     This act would take effect on January 1, 2018.

========

LC002684

========

 

LC002684 - Page 3 of 3