2019 -- S 0652 | |
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LC001361 | |
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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 HEALTH AND SAFETY -- UTILITY DISTRICT ENERGY COSTS | |
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Introduced By: Senator Leonidas P. Raptakis | |
Date Introduced: March 21, 2019 | |
Referred To: Senate Commerce | |
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: | |
1 | SECTION 1. Title 23 of the General Laws entitled "HEALTH AND SAFETY" is hereby |
2 | amended by adding thereto the following chapter: |
3 | CHAPTER 95 |
4 | LOCAL UTILITY DISTRICT ENERGY COSTS |
5 | 23-95-1. Findings. |
6 | The general assembly finds that: |
7 | (1) The state of Rhode Island has an obligation to ensure that public streets are well lit for |
8 | safety purposes. |
9 | (2) The utility companies that supply the energy necessary to power the street lights |
10 | should be timely paid for their services. |
11 | (3) It has created and authorized local utility districts to provide adequate lighting for |
12 | streets within its district. |
13 | (4) Not all local lighting districts have been timely paying for the energy used to fund |
14 | their street lights. |
15 | 23-95-2. State liability for local utility districts' energy costs. |
16 | If a legislatively authorized local utility district fails to pay the energy costs necessary to |
17 | supply public street lighting, then the state of Rhode Island shall pay the energy supplier's |
18 | lighting bill until such time as the lighting district regains its financial well-being. |
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1 | 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 HEALTH AND SAFETY -- UTILITY DISTRICT ENERGY COSTS | |
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1 | This act would require the state to pay the energy costs necessary to supply public street |
2 | lighting if the local utility district fails to do so. |
3 | This act would take effect upon passage. |
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