2022 -- H 6618

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LC003493

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES - PAYMENTS TO FIRE COMPANIES

     Introduced By: Representatives Casimiro, Craven, Noret, Fenton-Fung, and C Lima

     Date Introduced: January 06, 2022

     Referred To: House Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 45-18-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 45-18 entitled "Payments To

Fire Companies" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     45-18-1. Appropriations authorized.

     (a) Any city or town may annually appropriate, in the manner provided by law for

appropriations and expenditures by a city or town, a sum to be expended and paid to any volunteer

fire company or companies or other organization or organizations created, for the purpose of and

engaged in the work of extinguishing fires and suppressing fire hazards within the limits of the city

or town, whether the company or companies or organization or organizations incorporated or not,

to be used by the volunteer fire company or companies or organization or organizations for

equipment, property, salary, or other expenses in connection with and for the work of extinguishing

fires and suppressing fire hazards within the limits of the city or town; provided, that the town of

Cumberland may annually appropriate funds to any and all the incorporated fire districts in the

town for any purpose authorized by the charter of the district or districts.

     (b) Any city or town participating in the Narragansett Bay marine task force (NBMTF)

shall receive the following amounts for the maintenance of boats that provide services to

Narragansett Bay:

     (1) Boats that are chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and enhanced conventional

weapons (CBRNE) compliant and equipped with firefighting capability currently operated by

Providence, East Providence, Cranston, Newport, Warwick, and North Kingstown shall receive the

sum of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) per community;

     (2) Boats currently operated by East Greenwich, Narragansett, Barrington, Warren, Bristol,

Portsmouth, Middletown, Jamestown, Tiverton, and Little Compton shall receive the sum of six

thousand dollars ($6,000) per community; and

     (3) The distribution of these sums shall be delegated to and administered by the Rhode

Island emergency management agency established pursuant to § 30-15-5, from an appropriation of

funds for this purpose by the general assembly.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on July 1, 2022.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES - PAYMENTS TO FIRE COMPANIES

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     This act would provide for an appropriation of state funds to cities and towns who are

members of the Narragansett Bay marine task force (NBMTF) for the maintenance of boats

providing services to Narragansett Bay.

     This act would take effect on July 1, 2022.

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