2018 -- S 2608

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LC004550

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2018

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE - COURTS

     

     Introduced By: Senators DiPalma, Seveney, Calkin, and Nesselbush

     Date Introduced: March 01, 2018

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Chapter 8-2 of the General Laws entitled "Superior Court" is hereby

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amended by adding thereto the following section:

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     8-2-15.2. Renewable energy resource court calendar.

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     (a) Findings. The general assembly finds that:

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     (1) Rhode Island general laws § 39-26-5(a) defines renewable energy resources, the

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development of such facilities and projects has been promoted through chapter 26, 26.1, 26.2,

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26.3, 26.4, 26.5 and 26.6 of title 39 to, amongst other purposes, support and encourage

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development of distributed renewable energy generation systems; reduce environmental impacts;

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reduce carbon emissions that contribute to climate change by encouraging the local siting of

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renewable energy projects; diversify the state's energy generation sources; stimulate economic

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development; improve distribution system resilience and reliability; and, reduce distribution

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system costs.

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     (2) The development of renewable energy resources is severely hindered when superior

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court land use matters are not promptly heard and decided.

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     (3) Delays in the adjudication of superior court land use matters concerning the

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development of renewable energy resources has significant adverse consequences on the ability to

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promote, advance and implement such facilities and projects in the state of Rhode Island.

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     (b) Declaration of policy. It is hereby declared to be the policy of the state of Rhode

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Island for superior court land use matters concerning the development of renewable energy

 

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resources to be afforded precedence and for those matters to be determined with as little delay as

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possible.

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     (c) Establishment. To accomplish this policy in an effort to minimize delay in the

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processing of superior court land use matters concerning the development of renewable energy

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resources, there shall be established a separate calendar within the jurisdiction of the superior

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court to be known as the renewable energy resource court calendar.

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     (d) Renewable energy resource court calendar.

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     (1) The presiding justice of the superior court shall create a renewable energy resource

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court calendar to adjudicate all superior court land use matters concerning the development of

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renewable energy resources, to be located in the superior court for the county of Providence, and

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shall assign personnel to the extent warranted to hear and decide all actions within the jurisdiction

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of land use court calendar.

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     (2) The renewable energy resource court calendar, the "RER calendar", shall hear all

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superior court land use matters concerning the development of renewable energy resources

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instituted pursuant to §§ 45-23-71; 45-23-72; 45-24-63(b); 45-24-69; 45-24-71; 45-24.4-16; and,

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all appeals taken from orders and decisions of the Rhode Island department of environmental

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management and/or the administrative adjudication division of the Rhode Island department of

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environmental management by and through § 42-35-15 and any other relevant statute, which are

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all matters that can be decided without the necessity of evidentiary hearing, on the record, and in

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an expedited fashion. The RER calendar shall have exclusive original jurisdiction over all

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superior court land use matters concerning the development of renewable energy resources. Cases

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assigned to the RER calendar shall be heard and/or decided within one hundred twenty (120)

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days. No continuances shall be granted except for good cause shown. Such continuances as are

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necessary shall be granted for the shortest practical time. Written decisions shall be promptly

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issued.

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     (3) The justice assigned to the RER calendar shall have broad discretion to hear any

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incidental but related issues that they deem necessary in the best interests of justice.

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     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 COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE - COURTS

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     This act would establish a new and separate calendar within the superior court to

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expediently hear and decide land use matters concerning the development of renewable energy

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resources.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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