2019 -- S 0210

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LC000899

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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 CENTRAL FALLS

     Introduced By: Senator Elizabeth A. Crowley

     Date Introduced: January 31, 2019

     Referred To: Senate Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Unless otherwise amended by this act, the terms, conditions, provisions and

definitions of Chapter 241 of the Public Laws of 2012 are hereby incorporated by reference and

shall remain in full force and effect.

     SECTION 2. Section 6 of Article 22 of Chapter 241 of the Public Laws of 2012, as

amended, entitled "An Act Relating to Central Falls", is hereby amended to read as follows:

     Sec. 6. Under Rhode Island general laws section 45-9-1 et seq. a municipality subject to

the jurisdiction of a fiscal overseer, budget commission or receiver is responsible for payment of

expenses and costs incurred carrying out the responsibilities of the fiscal overseer, budget

commission and/or receiver. During fiscal 2011, the State incurred and paid on behalf of the City

of Central Falls expenses totaling $ 1,073,131. On or about September 15, 2011, the State billed

the City of Central Falls for said $1,073,131 expenses, for which the City of Central Falls is

responsible under section 45-9-1 et seq., and which continue to be incurred and paid for by the

State on behalf of the city. The State intends to bill the City of Central Falls for those expenses.

Notwithstanding the provisions of § 45-9-1 et seq., the state shall not bill the City of Central Falls

for any expenses related to the drafting of and statewide defense of the constitutionality of the

fiscal stability act, any expenses related to the state-controlled Central Falls school district

brought in the bankruptcy proceeding, any expenses related to the failed attempt to collect the

fees and expenses incurred in the Moreau v. Flanders litigation, or any expenses incurred after

the termination of the receivership on April 15, 2013. As of January 1, 2018, the City of Central

Falls has repaid the state a total of one million, eight hundred thousand dollars ($1,800,000) in

addition to paying six hundred twenty thousand, eight hundred fifty-six dollars ($620,856) in the

city budget for state oversight, for a total of two million, four hundred twenty thousand, eight

hundred fifty-six dollars ($2,420,856) in receivership expenses. This amount shall be the total

amount owed and paid by the City of Central Falls for receivership expenses and the state shall

declare, in writing, that no further debt is owed. Recognizing that the City of Central Falls does

not currently have the financial ability to reimburse the State in full for said expenses and may

need additional time to reimburse the State for expenses reflected in future bills submitted by the

State for such expenses, the City of Central Falls shall have up to June 30, 2021 to reimburse the

State for all such expenses paid by the State and billed to the city.

     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 CENTRAL FALLS

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     This act would amend the public laws to establish that the City of Central Falls has paid

back the state $2,420,856 and would relieve the City of Central Falls from further reimbursing the

state for expenses incurred in drafting the statewide defense of the fiscal stability act, any

expenses related to the state-controlled Central Falls school district bankruptcy proceeding,

expenses incurred in Moreau v. Flanders, or any expenses incurred after termination of the

receivership.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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