2017 -- S 0927

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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 TOWNS AND CITIES -- LICENSURE STREAMLINING IN THE TOWN OF

WARREN

     Introduced By: Senator Walter S. Felag

     Date Introduced: May 30, 2017

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Chapter 45-2 of the General Laws entitled "General Powers" is hereby

amended by adding thereto the following section:

     45-2-31.5. Town of Warren – Delegation of local licensing authority.

     In the town of Warren, the town council is authorized to provide, by ordinance, for the

administrative issuance and renewal of all licenses the council is authorized to issue pursuant to

this title or any other section of the general laws, with the exception of licenses that require their

issuance or renewal after a public hearing, and provided that all applications and licenses shall

meet the requirements and conditions set forth in applicable provisions of the general laws.

     SECTION 2. Section 45-2-31.2 of the General Laws in Chapter 45-2 entitled "General

Powers" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     45-2-31.2. Business registration fee -- Town of Warren.

     (a) All wholesale, retail, commercial, professional service or manufacturing businesses,

whether by sole proprietorships, partnerships, corporations or any business entity, shall register

their business, company, trade or office situated in the town of Warren with the town clerk of the

town of Warren. Each registration shall contain the name of the firm or business, the name of the

owner(s) or operator(s) of the firm or business, the type of business to be conducted, and other

basic information.

     (b) There shall be a fee for each registration. The registration fee shall be set by town

council ordinance.

     (c) Upon registration of a business, a registration certificate shall be issued to the

registrant. No other business of the same trade name shall be allowed to register once a certificate

of registration has been issued without the approval of the prior registrant in writing. Every

registration certificate shall expire the 31st day in December and shall be renewed annually upon

payment of the required fee. No certificate shall be renewed if the business fails to provide proof

from the tax collector that all municipal taxes have been paid to date. Every certificate of

registration shall be placed in a conspicuous location in each business establishment.

     (d) Any business required to obtain a liquor, victualling or any other license to operate

under any other section of the general laws shall be exempt from the requirement of paying the

fee required by this statute.

     (e) Any person, whether as principal, agent, employee, or otherwise, who violates any of

the provisions of this chapter, shall be fined not to exceed twenty-five dollars ($25.00) per day for

each offense. Any fine imposed under this statute and/or the ordinance promulgated by the town

council pursuant to this section may be appealed to the Warren municipal court. The fines shall

inure to the town and each day that the violation continues shall be deemed to constitute a

separate offense.

     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 TOWNS AND CITIES -- LICENSURE STREAMLINING IN THE TOWN OF

WARREN

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     This act would permit the town of Warren to exempt license holders from the town's

business registration fee and to allow the Warren town council to delegate the power to grant the

issuance and renewal of certain licenses administratively.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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