2023 -- H 5159

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LC000159

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- PARKING FACILITIES AND

PRIVILEGES

     

     Introduced By: Representatives McGaw, McNamara, Carson, Speakman, Ackerman,
Potter, Donovan, Ajello, Kislak, and Tanzi

     Date Introduced: January 19, 2023

     Referred To: House Corporations

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Chapter 31-28 of the General Laws entitled "Parking Facilities and

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Privileges" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following sections:

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     31-28-11. Installation of electric vehicle charging stations -- Definitions.

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     As used in this section and § 31-28-12, the following words shall have the following

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meanings:

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     (1) "Commercial" includes, but is not limited to, any parking lot servicing box stores,

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grocery markets, strip malls, shopping malls, shopping centers, and hotels or motels.

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     (2) "Electric vehicle charging station" (EVCS) means a public parking space that is served

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by either "EV capable" or "EV ready" charging equipment.

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     (3) "EV capable" means electrical vehicle charging stations that have electrical panel

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capacity and space to support a minimum 40-ampere, 208/240-volt dedicated branch circuit for

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each EV parking space, and the installation of raceways (enclosed conduit that forms a physical

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pathway for electrical wiring), both underground and surface mounted, to support electric vehicle

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supply equipment (EVSE).

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     (4) "EV ready" means a designated parking space with one 40-ampere, 208/240-volt

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dedicated branch circuit for EVSE servicing electric vehicles. The circuit shall terminate in a

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suitable termination point such as a receptacle, junction box, or an EVSE, and be located in close

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proximity to the proposed location of the EV parking spaces.

 

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     (5) "Housing" means any new, existing, or rehabilitated private housing developments with

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more than twenty (20) units, that provide residential or public parking.

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     (6) "Large employer" means any employer, with over one hundred (100) employees located

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in a single complex, that owns and operates a parking lot for employee use.

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     (7) "Municipal" means any parking lot servicing a municipal building, including, but not

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limited to, schools, public safety facilities, town or city hall, library, public administration offices,

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and recreational facilities.

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     31-28-12. Installation of electric vehicle charging stations -- Designated parking

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spaces.

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     (a) All new parking lots and existing lots that undergo an expansion of the number of

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parking spaces by fifty percent (50%) or more, shall create designated parking spaces for electric

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vehicles.

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     (b) Each electric vehicle parking space shall have either an EV-ready or EV-capable public

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level 2, or DC fast charger, or a dual port charger to be shared by two (2) parking spaces.

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     (c) Projects awarded or under development prior to January 1, 2024, are exempt from the

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requirements of this section. Beginning January 1, 2024, the installation of electric vehicle charging

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stations and the designation of parking spaces shall be required when there is:

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     (1) Construction of a parking lot for a new building or new off-street parking facility;

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     (2) An additional parking lot added to an addition for an existing building; or

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     (3) A parking lot increased in size to add fifty percent (50%) or more parking spaces.

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     (d) Commercial, municipal, large employer, and housing parking lots shall designate

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electrical vehicle parking spaces based on the number of parking spaces provided in accordance

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with the following table below. Calculations for the required number of EV spaces shall be rounded

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up to the nearest whole number.

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TOTAL NUMBER OF PARKING SPACES NUMBER OF REQUIRED EV SPACES

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0-9 0

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10-25 1

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26-50 2

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51-75 4

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76-100 5

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101-150 7

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151-200 10

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201 and over six percent (6%) of total

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     (e) Electric vehicle parking restrictions and violations shall be enforced pursuant to the

 

LC000159 - Page 2 of 4

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provisions of § 31-41.1-4 relating to the fine imposed for electric vehicle charging station

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restrictions.

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     (f) The owner of any facility or business which fails to comply with the provisions of this

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section shall be subject to a penalty set and enforced by the local or state authorities on public or

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private property when the location of the parking spaces is within the purview of the state building

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code, chapter 27.3 of title 23.

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     (g) The office of energy resources shall provide recommendations to improve electrical

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vehicle charging infrastructure in underserved communities. In the development of these

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recommendations, the office of energy resources may request and be furnished with information

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from municipalities, an electric distribution company, the Rhode Island department of

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transportation, community boards and nonprofits representing municipal interests. The office of

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energy resources shall develop these recommendations by January 31, 2024.

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     (h) Municipalities shall provide the office of energy resources with semiannual reports on

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the number of installed public charging stations, location of the charging stations, and total number

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of charging stations in the community. The office of energy resources shall make this information

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available to the public on the agency's website.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on July 1, 2023.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- PARKING FACILITIES AND

PRIVILEGES

***

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     This act would require the installation of designated electric vehicle parking spaces, with

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charging capabilities by certain businesses, municipalities, and housing developments in existing,

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new, or expanded parking lots commencing January 1, 2024.

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     This act would take effect on July 1, 2023.

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