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

     

     Introduced By: Senator Leonidas P. Raptakis

     Date Introduced: March 21, 2019

     Referred To: Senate Commerce

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Title 23 of the General Laws entitled "HEALTH AND SAFETY" is hereby

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amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

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CHAPTER 95

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LOCAL UTILITY DISTRICT ENERGY COSTS

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     23-95-1. Findings.

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     The general assembly finds that:

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     (1) The state of Rhode Island has an obligation to ensure that public streets are well lit for

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safety purposes.

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     (2) The utility companies that supply the energy necessary to power the street lights

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should be timely paid for their services.

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     (3) It has created and authorized local utility districts to provide adequate lighting for

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streets within its district.

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     (4) Not all local lighting districts have been timely paying for the energy used to fund

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their street lights.

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     23-95-2. State liability for local utility districts' energy costs.

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     If a legislatively authorized local utility district fails to pay the energy costs necessary to

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supply public street lighting, then the state of Rhode Island shall pay the energy supplier's

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lighting bill until such time as the lighting district regains its financial well-being.

 

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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 HEALTH AND SAFETY -- UTILITY DISTRICT ENERGY COSTS

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     This act would require the state to pay the energy costs necessary to supply public street

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lighting if the local utility district fails to do so.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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