2023 -- H 6060 SUBSTITUTE A

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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 COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE--COURTS -- SUPERIOR COURT

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Shekarchi, Hull, Edwards, Cortvriend, Kazarian, and
Blazejewski

     Date Introduced: March 03, 2023

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Chapter 8-2 of the General Laws entitled "Superior Court" is hereby amended

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by adding thereto the following section:

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     8-2-40. Land use calendar -- Effective January 1, 2024.

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     (a) Findings and declarations. The general assembly finds and declares that:

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     (1) There are significant delays in the development permitting process in the State of Rhode

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Island which results in lost opportunity for the needed development of housing units and

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commercial development to neighboring states.

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     (2) Contributing to the delay were lengthy administrative appeals to local and state boards

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prior to appeals to superior court.

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     (3) Previous legislation amended the appeal process in most cases to provide a direct right

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of appeal to superior court.

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     (4) Landowners, applicants, municipalities and abutters are entitled to decisions with

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respect to ordinances, regulations, decisions regarding property rights and interests which do not

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require years of costly appeals and litigation.

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     (4) There is a need for uniform treatment of such matters, and related matters which are

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statutorily provided with priority on the judicial calendar and expedited for decision.

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     (b) Establishment. To accomplish this purpose in an effort to minimize delay in the

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processing of land use matters in superior court, effective January 1, 2024, there shall be established

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a separate calendar for the administration and determination of all land use matters.

 

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     (c) Land use calendar. The presiding judge of the superior court shall create a land use

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calendar in superior court and shall assign personnel to the extent warranted to exclusively hear

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and decide all eligible land use matters, and the calendar shall be referred to as the “land use

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calendar.” Cases eligible for the land use calendar shall include appeals under §§ 45-22.2-9.1, 45-

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23-71, 45-23-72, 45-24-69, 45-24-71; 45-24.4-16, 45-24.6-9, 45-53-5; and 45-53-5.1. Any party

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may request a conference to seek assignment to the land use calendar, and acceptance of any matter

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in addition to the sections listed above shall be at the discretion of the judge(s) assigned to the

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calendar.

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     (d) Timing. All matters assigned to the land use calendar shall be expedited. All

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memoranda from all interested parties in an appeal assigned to the calendar shall be completed

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within sixty (60) days of the filing of the certified record. No continuances or postponements shall

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be granted except for good cause shown. Such continuances as are necessary shall be granted for

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the shortest practicable time.

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     (e) Use of section. Under no circumstances shall any party be permitted to utilize this

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section as a basis for dismissal of an action, as this section is enacted for the benefit and

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convenience of the superior court.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on January 1, 2024.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE--COURTS -- SUPERIOR COURT

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     This act would, effective January 1, 2024, establish a land use court within the superior

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court.

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     This act would take effect on January 1, 2024.

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