2019 -- S 0270

========

LC001254

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

____________

A N   A C T

RELATING TO WATERS AND NAVIGATION - DRINKING WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM

PROTECTION

     Introduced By: Senators Sosnowski, Coyne, and Conley

     Date Introduced: February 13, 2019

     Referred To: Senate Environment & Agriculture

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 46-15.3-10 of the General Laws in Chapter 46-15.3 entitled "Public

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

     46-15.3-10. Water quality protection funds.

     (a)(1) There are hereby created three (3) two (2) classes water quality protection funds:

one of which shall be administered by and be in the custody of the treasurer of the water

resources board and maintained by each supplier that produces water from its own sources of

supply, or pays directly to the water resources board and, one of which shall be administered by

and be in the custody of the city of Providence acting through the Providence water supply board,

and one of which shall be in the custody of the general treasurer. The first two (2) mentioned

funds shall consist of such amounts as the state or the city of Providence may from time to time

appropriate, all water quality protection charges other than the six and nine tenths percent (6.9%)

and fifty-seven percent (57.0%) portions referred to in § 46-15.3-9, proceeds from the sale of

bonds and notes, as provided in subsection (b) below, and any money which may have been

obtained as grants, bequests, donations, gifts, or fines which are intended to be used for purposes

consistent with this chapter. This third mentioned fund shall be hereby established as a general

revenue receipt account known as the "water resources operating fund".

     (2) The general revenue appropriations made available from the general revenue receipts

credited to "Water Resources Operating Fund" shall be used for the administration and support of

the water resources board.

     (b) The water resources board shall borrow money and issue its notes and bonds therefor,

for the purposes set forth in this chapter, and pursuant to the authority and the procedures set forth

in chapter 15.1 of this title, which shall be secured by pledging or assigning, in whole or in part,

the revenues and other monies held or to be deposited in the water quality protection funds and

any other revenues derived under this chapter.

     (c) Any supplier with its own water quality protection fund may borrow money, and/or

issue its bonds or notes therefor, or may lease public facilities or public equipment for the

purposes set forth in this chapter. The supplier must secure any borrowings, bonds, notes, or

leases by pledging or assigning, in whole or in part, the revenues and other monies held by it in

its own water quality protection fund.

     (d) All amounts in the water quality protection fund, water quality protection charges,

and any other revenues of the water resources board, excluding those deposited as general

revenues, received under the provisions of this chapter shall be deemed to be trust funds to be

held and applied solely as provided in this chapter and chapter 15.1 of this title.

     (e) Any money which may accumulate in the water quality protection funds, which is in

excess of that pledged to repayment of outstanding bonds or notes or lease payments or loan

repayments at any given time, may be used directly for eligible expenditures from the fund and

shall be disbursed for these purposes in accordance with § 46-15.3-11.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

========

LC001254

========

LC001254 - Page 2 of 3

EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO WATERS AND NAVIGATION - DRINKING WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM

PROTECTION

***

     This act would reduce the number of water quality fund classes from three to two, one of

which would be administered by and maintained by each supplier that produces water from its

own sources of supply, or pays directly to the water resources board and, one of which would be

administered by and be in the custody of the city of Providence acting through the Providence

water supply board.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

========

LC001254

========

LC001254 - Page 3 of 3