2019 -- H 5408

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LC001546

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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 WATERS AND NAVIGATION

     Introduced By: Representatives Quattrocchi, and Chippendale

     Date Introduced: February 14, 2019

     Referred To: House Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 46-15.3-9 of the General Laws in Chapter 46-15.3 entitled "Public

Drinking Water Supply System Protection" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     46-15.3-9. Collection of charges.

     (a) A record shall be maintained by every supplier showing the amounts of water sold,

and the amounts of water quality protection charges billed. The records shall be subject to public

review. The water quality protection charges shall be deemed to be trust funds for the purposes of

this chapter and shall be held in a separate account.

     (1) For all suppliers, other than the city of Providence acting through the Providence

water supply board, or suppliers purchasing water from the city of Providence acting through the

Providence water supply board, thirty-six and one tenth percent (36.1%) of the amount billed

each month shall be remitted to the treasurer of the water resources board on or before the

twentieth (20th) day of the second month following the month of billing.

     (2) For suppliers purchasing water from the city of Providence acting through the

Providence water supply board, for that portion of such supplier's retail billings representing

water furnished to the purchasers from the Providence water supply board, thirty-six and one

tenth percent (36.1%) of the amount billed each month shall be remitted to the Providence water

supply board, on or before the twentieth (20th) day of the second month following the month of

billing, and for that portion of such supplier's retail billings representing water furnished to the

purchasers from sources other than the Providence water supply board, thirty-six and one tenth

percent (36.1%) of the amount billed each month shall be remitted to the treasurer of the water

resources board on or before the twentieth (20th) day of the second month following the month of

billing.

     (3) The amounts remitted by suppliers purchasing water from the city of Providence to

the Providence water supply board and treasurer of the water resources board pursuant to the

previous sentence shall be based pro rata on metered water production originating from the

Providence water supply board and from all other sources in accordance with rules and

regulations to be finally promulgated by the water resources board on or before September 1,

1992.

     (b) For all suppliers, including the city of Providence acting through the Providence water

supply board, fifty-seven percent (57.0%) of the amount billed each month shall be remitted

through the water resources board to the general treasurer of the state of Rhode Island on or

before the twentieth (20th) day of the second month following the month of billing and shall be

deposited as general revenues. Five percent (5%) of the amount collected from the Providence

water supply board and remitted to the general treasurer of the state of Rhode Island pursuant to

this subsection shall in turn be remitted to the town of Scituate as reimbursement to the town for

police, fire and other municipal services provided by the town to the Scituate Reservoir.

     (c) All suppliers may disburse the six and nine tenths percent (6.9%) of the charges

collected and retained by the supplier as an administrative charge for any purpose relating to the

operation of the supplier. All suppliers shall use or pledge the thirty-six and one tenth percent

(36.1%) of the charges to pay principal or interest on bonds, notes, or other obligations issued for

the purposes of this chapter or lease payments in connection with any bonds, notes, or

obligations. It shall not be necessary for any supplier of public drinking water whose rates may be

regulated by the public utilities commission, pursuant to chapter 1 of title 39, to obtain approval

from the commission for billing of the water quality protection charge. The public utilities

commission shall not, in determining rates for any supplier hereunder, consider the funds billed

hereunder when determining revenue requirements for the supplier.

     (d) In no event shall any supplier be responsible to collect or pay more than a single

water quality protection charge with respect to water sold by such supplier, whether the date of

sale was on, before, or after July 1, 1992.

     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 WATERS AND NAVIGATION

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     This act would direct the general treasurer to remit to the town of Scituate five percent

(5%) of the monies received by the treasurer from the Providence water supply board to

reimburse the town of Scituate for police, fire and municipal services provided by the town to the

Scituate Reservoir.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC001546

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