Chapter 129

2009 -- H 5782 SUBSTITUTE A

Enacted 07/16/09

 

A N A C T

RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- MOTOR FUEL TAX

 

     Introduced By: Representatives Jackson, Martin, A Rice, Sullivan, and Edwards

     Date Introduced: February 26, 2009

 

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

 

     SECTION 1. Section 31-36-1 and Section 31-36-22 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-

36 entitled "Motor Fuel Tax" are hereby amended to read as follows:

 

     31-36-1. Definitions. -- Terms in this chapter and chapter 37 of this title are construed as

follows:

      (1) "Administrator" means the tax administrator.

      (2) "Distributor" includes any person, association of persons, firm, or corporation,

wherever resident or located, who shall import or cause to be imported into this state, for use or

for sale, fuels, and also any person, association of persons, firm or corporation who shall produce,

refine, manufacture, or compound fuels within this state.

      (3) "Filling station" includes any place, location, or station where fuels are offered for

sale at retail.

      (4) "Fuels" includes gasoline, benzol, naphtha, and other volatile and inflammable

liquids (other than lubricating oils, diesel fuel for the propulsion of marine craft, fuels used for the

propulsion of airplanes, oils used for heating purposes, manufactured biodiesel fuel that results in

employment in Rhode Island at a manufacturing facility for biodiesel fuel as defined in

subdivision (14) of this section), used or suitable for use for operating or propelling motor

vehicles with internal combustion engines. This does not include benzol and naphtha sold or used

for a purpose other than for the operation or propulsion of motor vehicles. Any article or product

represented as gasoline for use in internal combustion type engines, used in motor vehicles, shall

be equal to or better in quality and specification than that known as "United States government

motor gasoline."

      (5) "Investigator and examiner" means any person appointed by the tax administrator to

act as an investigator and examiner.

      (6) "Owner" includes any person, association of persons, firm, or corporation offering

fuels for sale at retail.

      (7) "Peddlers" means any person, association of persons, firm or corporation, except a

distributor as defined in this chapter, who shall distribute gasoline by tank wagon in this state.

      (8) "Public highways" includes any state or other highway and any public street, avenue,

alley, park, parkway, driveway, or public place in any city or town.

      (9) "Pump" includes any apparatus or machine for raising, driving, exhausting, or

compressing fluids, and used in the sale and distribution of fuels.

      (10) "Purchaser" includes any person, association of persons, firm, or corporation,

wherever resident or located, who purchases fuels from a distributor, for use or resale, and any

person, association of persons, firm or corporation who purchases from a distributor, gasoline or

other volatile and inflammable liquids (other than lubricating oils and oils used for heating

purposes) for use other than for propelling motor vehicles.

      (11) "Retail dealer" means any person, association of persons, firm, or corporation

operating a filling station as herein defined in this chapter for the sale or dispensing of motor fuel

by delivery into service tank or tanks of any highway motor vehicle which is propelled by an

internal combustion motor, other than the highway motor vehicle belonging to the person owning

or operating the place of business; provided, however, that sales by a manufacturer or distributor

shall not constitute them retail dealers.

      (12) "State highways" includes only those public highways or those parts of them that

shall be constructed or maintained by the department of transportation.

      (13) "United States government motor gasoline" means that gasoline which is or may be

prescribed by the federal specification board of the United States government for use as a fuel for

motor vehicle, motor boat, and similar engines.

     (14) "Manufactured biodiesel fuel" means: (i) Mono-alkyl esters of long chain fatty acids

derived from vegetable oils or animal fats which conform to ASTM D6751 specifications for use

in diesel engines; (ii) That results in employment in Rhode Island at a fixed location at a

manufacturing facility for biodiesel fuel; and (iii) Any volume of biodiesel fuel that is

subsequently blended with other fuels and is used for heating purposes or for operating or

propelling motor vehicles notwithstanding the portion of biodiesel blended into any fuel, only the

biodiesel portion of the fuel shall be exempt from taxation under chapter 31-36.

 

     31-36-22. Rules and regulations -- Forms. -- (a) The tax administrator may shall

prescribe rules and regulations, not inconsistent with law, to carry into effect the provisions of

this chapter and chapter 37 of this title. These rules and regulations, when reasonably designed to

carry out the intent and purpose of these chapters, shall be prima facie evidence of their proper

interpretation. The rules and regulations may from time to time be amended, suspended, or

revoked, in whole or in part, by the tax administrator.

      (b) The tax administrator may shall prescribe, and may shall furnish, any forms

necessary or proper for the administration of these chapters.

 

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect sixty (60) days after passage.

     

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LC02073/SUB A

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