2019 -- H 5638

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LC001786

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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 -- PROMPT PAYMENT BY

DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Edwards, Canario, Phillips, Almeida, and Maldonado

     Date Introduced: February 27, 2019

     Referred To: House Finance

     (Dept. of Administration)

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 42-11.1-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-11.1 entitled "Prompt

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Payment by Department of Administration" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     42-11.1-3. Time period for payment.

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     (a) All bills shall be paid within thirty (30) working calendar days of receipt of a proper

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invoice or other contractual dates for periodic payments, except when a contractor has failed to

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submit a bill in accordance with contractually imposed time frames.

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     (b) Each contractor shall make payment to subcontractors within ten (10) five (5)

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calendar days of receipt of payment by the state; provided, however, that the contractor may

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setoff a payment due to a subcontractor by an amount equal to the amount of an unpaid legally

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enforceable debt owed by the subcontractor to the contractor or any amount which the contractor

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is entitled to withhold under the terms of the contract entered into by the contractor and

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subcontractor, or any amount owed by the subcontractor to the contractor by way of a statutory

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obligation, or enforceable lien, of which the contractor or subcontractor had previous knowledge

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or notice, or has reason to believe exists.

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     (c) The director of the department of administration shall have the power to impose

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sanctions upon a contractor that has failed to comply with subsection (b) of this section or upon a

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subcontractor who has failed to comply with subsection (c) of this section. Such sanctions may

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include, but are not limited to, the sanctions set forth in § 37-14.1-8. The division of purchases, in

 

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consultation with the office of diversity, equity, and opportunity, shall establish, by rule and

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regulations promulgated in accordance with chapter 35 of title 42, standards for enforcement and

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procedures for receiving and reviewing inquiries regarding a contractor’s noncompliance with

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subsections (b) and (c) of this section.

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     (c)(d) This section shall not apply to contractors or subcontractors performing work

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pursuant to a contract awarded by the department of transportation unless the subcontractor

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provides a payment and performance bond in an amount equal to the contract between the

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contractor and subcontractor.

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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 -- PROMPT PAYMENT BY

DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION

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     This act would amend the provisions for the timely payment of monies owed by the

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department of administration to contractors and would further require prompt payment by the

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contractors to their subcontractors and payments by subcontractors to lower tier subcontractors

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and would allow the department to impose sanctions for failure to comply with any prompt

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payment provisions.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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