2019 -- H 5111

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LC000167

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT - DEPARTMENT OF

TRANSPORTATION

     

     Introduced By: Representative Lauren H. Carson

     Date Introduced: January 11, 2019

     Referred To: House Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 42-13-2.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-13 entitled

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"Department of Transportation" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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

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department -- Rhode Works projects.

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     (a) It shall be the responsibility of the department to identify the businesses, senior citizen

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housing complexes, senior citizens centers and senior centers affected and the specific impact of

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rhode works projects on small businesses, senior citizen housing complexes, senior citizens

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centers and senior centers and to deliver and communicate this information to the department of

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

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commercial areas, senior citizen housing complexes, senior citizens centers and senior centers as

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it relates to road and bridge closings due to rhode works projects, and the realignment of the

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Newport Bridge ramps, identify road and bridge closings, parking restrictions, and alterations in

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traffic patterns to accommodate road and bridge repairs, including proposed dates of work, road

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closures, and re-routing of any traffic and parking patterns.

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     (b) During construction season (April through October), the department shall share the

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information collected in subsection (a) with the commerce corporation to allow at least two (2)

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months for the commerce corporation to assist small businesses, senior citizen housing

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complexes, senior citizens centers and senior centers affected by rhode works projects in the

 

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affected communities and neighborhoods as set forth in subsection (c). During emergencies, the

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department will contact the commerce corporation in order to coordinate a plan of action in the

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affected area. The department will meet with the commerce corporation on a regular basis in

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order to review upcoming projects and coordinate a plan of action for the affected businesses,

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senior citizen housing complexes, senior citizens centers and senior centers.

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     (c) The commerce corporation shall provide those affected businesses, senior citizen

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housing complexes, senior citizens centers and senior centers in the construction areas with a list

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of available resources, programs, and services that, if utilized, might minimize the economic and

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financial impact upon those businesses, senior citizen housing complexes, senior citizens centers

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and senior centers during road and bridge construction, including, but not limited to, contact by

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the commerce corporation to affected businesses, senior citizen housing complexes, senior

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citizens centers and senior centers and if desired, meeting with affected businesses, senior citizen

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housing complexes, senior citizens centers and senior centers during construction.

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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 STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT - DEPARTMENT OF

TRANSPORTATION

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     This act would require the department of transportation and the commerce corporation to

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coordinate with senior citizen housing complexes, senior citizens centers and senior centers in

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addition to small businesses to minimize the economic and financial impact of road works

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projects.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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