2017 -- S 1008

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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: Senators Felag, Coyne, Seveney, and DiPalma

     Date Introduced: June 29, 2017

     Referred To: Placed on Senate Calendar

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Legislative Findings.

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

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

America's Cup defense from 1930 to 1983.

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

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

Single-Handed Trans-Atlantic Ocean Race.

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

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

communities.

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

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

sailing events to the state.

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

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

World Ocean Race in 2018.

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

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

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

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

hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

CHAPTER 159

RHODE ISLAND SAILING EVENTS COMMISSION

     42-159-1. Short title.

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

Commission."

     42-159-2. Creation of the commission.

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

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

     42-159-3. Membership of the commission.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Association, or designee;

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

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

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

Association (RIMTA), or designee;

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

Newport;

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

the president of the Narragansett Bay Yachting Association; and

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

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

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

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

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

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

years.

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

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

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

voting.

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

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

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

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

     42-159-4. Terms of office.

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

     42-159-5. Purpose.

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

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

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

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

qualified marine events in the state.

     42-159-6. Authority.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

commission.

     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

***

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

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

local leaders on the suitability of hosting such activities.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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