2022 -- H 8134

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LC005775

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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 CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM-- 2022 BOND REFERENDA

     Introduced By: Representatives Slater, and Diaz

     Date Introduced: April 13, 2022

     Referred To: House Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Preamble. --

     1. The Roger Williams Park Zoo brings in over eight hundred thousand (800,000) visitors

each year, including over four hundred thousand (400,000) from out of state, contributing to over

fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) in economic impact for Roger Williams Park, the city of

Providence and the State of Rhode Island;

     2. The Roger Williams Park Zoo’s educational programs directly touch more than one

hundred thirty eight thousand (138,000) learners of all ages each year and provide free and reduced

entry to ensure that students of all backgrounds have access to these camps and programs;

     3. Unlike many zoos nationwide that receive dedicated state or local revenues, the Roger

Williams Park Zoo relies on entry fees and memberships for capital improvements;

     4. Rhode Island voters approved fifteen million dollars ($15,000,000) for the Zoo as part

of the 2014 “Clean Water, Open Space and Healthy Communities” bond, which the Zoo used

promptly to build a brand new “Faces of the Rainforest” exhibit. The exhibit brought an estimated

thirty six thousand, six hundred fifty seven (36,657) additional visitors to the Zoo in the first year

and demonstrated a positive return on investment by contributing fifteen million six hundred fifty

thousand dollars ($15,650,000) in direct value to the local and state economy;

     5. Roger Williams Park is comprised of four hundred thirty five (435) beautifully

maintained acres of open space, offering the citizens of Providence and this state a wide range of

recreational and educational opportunities; and

     6. The Park is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was named one of the

nation’s finest urban parks in the 2000 annual report of the National Trust for Historic Preservation;

     7. Under those circumstances, the general assembly hereby determines that a bond

referendum should be submitted to the people of the state to provide the Park and Zoo with the

additional capital to maintain that status in that the requested funds will help the Zoo meet the

technology demands of modern-day classrooms, increase student capacity to expand its education

programs to Rhode Island schools and provide a large venue with seating capacity for lectures,

assemblies, and artistic performances. The funds will also improve access and further contribute to

the Zoo's positive economic impacts on Roger Williams Park, the city of Providence and all of

Rhode Island.

     SECTION 2. Proposition to be submitted to the people -- At the general election to be

held on the Tuesday next after the first Monday in November 2022, there shall be submitted to the

people (“people”) of the State of Rhode Island (“state”), for their approval or rejection, the

following proposition:

     "Shall the action of the general assembly, by an act passed at the January 2022 session,

authorizing the issuance of bonds, refunding bonds, and temporary notes of the State of Rhode

Island for the capital project and in the amount listed below be approved, and the issuance of bonds,

refunding bonds, and temporary notes authorized in accordance with the provisions of said act?"

     Project

     1. Roger Williams Park and Zoo $28,500,000

     Approval of this question will allow the State of Rhode Island to issue general obligation

bonds, refunding bonds, and/or temporary notes in an amount not to exceed twenty-eight million

five hundred thousand dollars ($28,500,000).

     Twenty-three million five hundred thousand dollars ($23,500,000) shall be for the new

construction of a state-of-the-art carbon-neutral education center and event pavilion. Five million

dollars ($5,000,000) shall be for funds to improve the park infrastructure, roadways and renovations

to the historic public buildings and public art displays of the park.

     SECTION 3. Ballot labels and applicability of general election laws. -- The secretary of

state shall prepare and deliver to the state board of elections ballot labels for the project provided

for in section 1 hereof with the designations "approve" or "reject" provided next to the description

of the project to enable voters to approve or reject the proposition. The general election laws, so far

as consistent herewith, shall apply to this proposition.

     SECTION 4. Approval of project by people. -- If a majority of the people voting on the

proposition in section 2 hereof shall vote to approve the project stated therein, said project shall be

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deemed to be approved by the people. The authority to issue bonds, refunding bonds and/or

temporary notes of the state shall be limited to the aggregate amount for the project as set forth in

the proposition, which has been approved by the people.

     SECTION 5. . Bonds for capital development program. -- The general treasurer is

hereby authorized and empowered, with the approval of the governor, and in accordance with the

provisions of this act to issue capital development bonds in serial form, in the name of and on behalf

of the State of Rhode Island, in amounts as may be specified by the governor in an aggregate

principal amount not to exceed the total amount for the project approved by the people and

designated as "capital development loan of 2022 bonds." Provided, however, that the aggregate

principal amount of such capital development bonds and of any temporary notes outstanding at any

one time issued in anticipation thereof pursuant to section 7 hereof shall not exceed the total amount

for the project approved by the people. All provisions in this act relating to "bonds" shall also be

deemed to apply to "refunding bonds."

     Capital development bonds issued under this act shall be in denominations of one thousand

dollars ($1,000) each, or multiples thereof, and shall be payable in any coin or currency of the

United States which at the time of payment shall be legal tender for public and private debts. These

capital development bonds shall bear such date or dates, mature at specified time or times, but not

mature beyond the end of the twentieth state fiscal year following the fiscal year in which they are

issued; bear interest payable semi-annually at a specified rate or different or varying rates; be

payable at a designated time or times at a specified place or places; be subject to express terms of

redemption or recall, with or without premium; be in a form, with or without interest coupons

attached; carry such registration, conversion, reconversion, transfer, debt retirement, acceleration

and other provisions as may be fixed by the general treasurer, with the approval by the governor,

upon each issue of such capital development bonds at the time of each issue. Whenever the

governor shall approve the issuance of such capital development bonds, the governor's approval

shall be certified to the secretary of state; the bonds shall be signed by the general treasurer and

countersigned by the secretary of state and shall bear the seal of the state. The signature approval

of the governor shall be endorsed on each bond.

     SECTION 6. Refunding bonds for 2022 capital development program. -- The general

treasurer is hereby authorized and empowered, with the approval of the governor, and in accordance

with the provisions of this act, to issue bonds to refund the 2022 capital development program

bonds, in the name of and on behalf of the state, in amounts as may be specified by the governor in

an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the total amount approved by the people, to be

designated as "capital development program loan of 2022 refunding bonds" (hereinafter "refunding

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bonds").

     The general treasurer with the approval of the governor shall fix the terms and form of any

refunding bonds issued under this act in the same manner as the capital development bonds issued

under this act, except that the refunding bonds may not mature more than twenty (20) years from

the date of original issue of the capital development bonds being refunded.

     The proceeds of the refunding bonds, exclusive of any premium and accrual interest and

net the underwriters' cost, and cost of bond insurance, shall, upon their receipt, be paid by the

general treasurer immediately to the paying agent for the capital development bonds which are to

be called and prepaid. The paying agent shall hold the refunding bond proceeds in trust until they

are applied to prepay the capital development bonds. While such proceeds are held in trust, the

proceeds may be invested for the benefit of the state in obligations of the United States of America

or the State of Rhode Island.

     If the general treasurer shall deposit with the paying agent for the capital development

bonds the proceeds of the refunding bonds, or proceeds from other sources, amounts that, when

invested in obligations of the United States or the State of Rhode Island, are sufficient to pay all

principal, interest, and premium, if any, on the capital development bonds until these bonds are

called for prepayment, then such capital development bonds shall not be considered debts of the

State of Rhode Island for any purpose starting from the date of deposit of such monies with the

paying agent. The refunding bonds shall continue to be a debt of the state until paid.

     The term "bond" shall include "note," and the term "refunding bonds" shall include

"refunding notes" when used in this act.

     SECTION 7. Proceeds of capital development program. -- The general treasurer is

directed to deposit the proceeds from the sale of capital development bonds issued under this act,

exclusive of premiums and accrued interest and net the underwriters' cost, and cost of bond

insurance, in one or more of the depositories in which the funds of the state may be lawfully kept

in special accounts (hereinafter cumulatively referred to as "such capital development bond fund")

appropriately designated for the project set forth in section 1 hereof which shall have been approved

by the people to be used for the purpose of paying the cost of the project so approved.

     All monies in the capital development bond fund shall be expended for the purposes

specified in the proposition provided for in section 1 hereof under the direction and supervision of

the director of administration (hereinafter referred to as "director"). The director, or designee shall

be vested with all power and authority necessary or incidental to the purposes of this act, including,

but not limited to, the following authority:

     (1) To acquire land or other real property or any interest, estate or right therein as may be

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necessary or advantageous to accomplish the purposes of this act;

     (2) To direct payment for the preparation of any reports, plans and specifications, and

relocation expenses and other costs such as for furnishings, equipment designing, inspecting and

engineering, required in connection with the implementation of the project set forth in section 1

hereof;

     (3) To direct payment for the costs of construction, rehabilitation, enlargement, provision

of service utilities, and razing of facilities, and other improvements to land in connection with the

implementation of the project set forth in section 2 hereof; and

     (4) To direct payment for the cost of equipment, supplies, devices, materials and labor for

repair, renovation or conversion of systems and structures as necessary for the 2022 capital

development program bonds or notes hereunder from the proceeds thereof. No funds shall be

expended in excess of the amount of the capital development bond fund designated for the project

authorized in section 2 hereof. With respect to the bonds and temporary notes described in section

2, the proceeds shall be used for the following purpose:

     Question 1, relating to bonds in the amount of twenty-eight million five hundred thousand

dollars ($28,500,000) to provide funding for Roger Williams Park and Zoo for construction of a

state-of-the-art, carbon-neutral educational center and event pavilion and improvement of the park

infrastructure, roadways and renovations to the historic public buildings and public art displays of

the park.

     SECTION 8. Sale of bonds and notes. -- Any bonds or notes issued under the authority

of this act shall be sold at not less than the principal amount thereof, in such mode and on such

terms and conditions as the general treasurer, with the approval of the governor, shall deem to be

in the best interests of the state.

     Any premiums and accrued interest, net of the cost of bond insurance and underwriter's

discount, which may be received on the sale of the capital development bonds or notes shall become

part of the Rhode Island capital plan fund of the state, unless directed by federal law or regulation

to be used for some other purpose.

     In the event that the amount received from the sale of the capital development bonds or

notes exceeds the amount necessary for the purposes stated in section 6 hereof, the surplus may be

used to the extent possible to retire the bonds as the same may become due, to redeem them in

accordance with the terms thereof or otherwise to purchase them as the general treasurer, with the

approval of the governor, shall deem to be in the best interests of the state.

     Any bonds or notes issued under the provisions of this act and coupons on any capital

development bonds, if properly executed by the manual or electronic signatures of officers of the

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state in office on the date of execution, shall be valid and binding according to their tenor,

notwithstanding that before the delivery thereof and payment therefor, any or all such officers shall

for any reason have ceased to hold office.

     SECTION 9. Bonds and notes to be tax exempt and general obligations of the state. --

All bonds and notes issued under the authority of this act shall be exempt from taxation in the state

and shall be general obligations of the state, and the full faith and credit of the state is hereby

pledged for the due payment of the principal and interest on each of such bonds and notes as the

same shall become due.

     SECTION 10. All monies in the capital development fund not immediately required for

payment pursuant to the provisions of this act may be invested by the investment commission, as

established by chapter 10 of title 35, entitled "state investment commission," pursuant to the

provisions of such chapter; provided, however, that the securities in which the capital development

fund is invested shall remain a part of the capital development fund until exchanged for other

securities; and provided further, that the income from investments of the capital development fund

shall become a part of the general fund of the state and shall be applied to the payment of debt

service charges of the state, unless directed by federal law or regulation to be used for some other

purpose, or to the extent necessary, to rebate to the United States treasury any income from

investments (including gains from the disposition of investments) of proceeds of bonds or notes to

the extent deemed necessary to exempt (in whole or in part) the interest paid on such bonds or notes

from federal income taxation.

     SECTION 11. Appropriation. -- To the extent the debt service on these bonds is not

otherwise provided, a sum sufficient to pay the interest and principal due each year on bonds and

notes hereunder is hereby annually appropriated out of any money in the treasury not otherwise

appropriated.

     SECTION 12. Advances from general fund. -- The general treasurer is authorized, with

the approval of the director and the governor, in anticipation of the issue of bonds or notes under

the authority of this act, to advance to the capital development bond fund for the purposes specified

in section 6 hereof, any funds of the state not specifically held for any particular purpose; provided,

however, that all advances made to the capital development bond fund shall be returned to the

general fund from the capital development bond fund forthwith upon the receipt by the capital

development fund of proceeds resulting from the issue of bonds or notes to the extent of such

advances.

     SECTION 13. Federal assistance and private funds. -- In carrying out this act, the

director, or designee, is authorized on behalf of the state, with the approval of the governor, to apply

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for and accept any federal assistance which may become available for the purpose of this act,

whether in the form of loan or grant or otherwise, to accept the provision of any federal legislation

therefor, to enter into, act and carry out contracts in connection therewith, to act as agent for the

federal government in connection therewith, or to designate a subordinate so to act. Where federal

assistance is made available, the project shall be carried out in accordance with applicable federal

law, the rules and regulations thereunder and the contract or contracts providing for federal

assistance, notwithstanding any contrary provisions of state law. Subject to the foregoing, any

federal funds received for the purposes of this act shall be deposited in the capital development

bond fund and expended as a part thereof. The director, or designee may also utilize any private

funds that may be made available for the purposes of this act.

     SECTION 14. Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 12 and 13 of this act shall take effect upon passage. The

remaining sections of this act shall take effect when and if the state board of elections shall certify

to the secretary of state that a majority of the qualified electors voting on the proposition contained

in section 2 hereof have indicated their approval of the project thereunder.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM-- 2022 BOND REFERENDA

***

     This act would submit the state's 2022 capital development program requesting the

issuance of general obligation bonds totaling twenty eight million five hundred thousand dollars

($28,500,000) for approval of the electorate at the general election to be held on November 8, 2022.

     Twenty-three million five hundred thousand dollars ($23,500,000) would be for the new

construction of a state-of-the-art carbon-neutral education center and event pavilion. Five million

dollars ($5,000,000) would be for funds to improve the park infrastructure, roadways and

renovations to the park's historic public buildings and public art displays.

     These projects would help the zoo meet the technology demands of the modern-day

classrooms, increase student capacity to expand its education programs to Rhode Island schools

and provide a large venue with seating capacity for lectures, assemblies, and artistic performances.

Both projects would improve access and further contribute the zoo's positive economic impacts on

Roger Williams Park, the city of Providence and all of Rhode Island.

     Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 12 and 13 of this act would take effect upon passage. The remaining

sections of this act would take effect when and if the state board of elections shall certify to the

secretary of state that a majority of the qualified electors voting on the proposition contained in

section 2 hereof have indicated their approval the project thereunder.

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