11-R205
2011 -- S 0496 SUBSTITUTE A AS
AMENDED
Enacted 04/14/11
S E N A T E R E
S O L U T I O N
CREATING A
SPECIAL SENATE COMMISSION TO STUDY THE METHODOLOGY AND VALUES OF LAND ENROLLED
IN THE RHODE ISLAND FARM,
Introduced By: Senators Sosnowski, Walaska, McCaffrey, Goodwin, and Kettle
Date Introduced: March 10, 2011
WHEREAS, It is in the
public interest to encourage the preservation of farm, forest, and
open space land in order to maintain a readily available
source of food and farm products close to
the metropolitan areas of the state, to conserve the
state's natural resources, and to provide for the
welfare and happiness of the inhabitants of the state;
and
WHEREAS, It is in the public interest to prevent the forced conversion
of farm, forest,
and open space land to more intensive uses as the result
of economic pressures caused by the
assessment for purposes of property taxation at values
incompatible with their preservation as
farm, forest, and open space land; and
WHEREAS, The Rhode
Island Farm,
preservation of farm, forest, and open space land in this state;
now therefore, be it
RESOLVED,
That a special Senate commission to be known as the
“Special Senate
Commission to Study the
Rhode Island Farm,
is hereby created consisting of (8) eight members: three
(3) of whom shall be members of the
Senate, not more than two
(2) from the same political party, to be appointed by the Senate
President; one of whom
shall be the Director of the Rhode Island Department of Environmental
Management, or his or her
designee; one of whom shall be a representative of the
Farm Bureau; one of whom
shall be a representative of the Rhode Island League of Cities and
Towns; one of whom shall be
a representative of the Rhode Island Association of Assessing
Officers; and one of whom
shall be the chairperson of the Rhode Island Agriculture Council.
In
lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to a permanent advisory
commission, a legislative study commission, or any commission
created by a General Assembly
resolution, the appointing authority may appoint a member of the
general public to serve in lieu
of a legislator, provided that the Majority Leader or
the Minority Leader of the political party
which is entitled to the appointment consents to the member
of the general public.
The
purpose of said commission shall be to make a comprehensive study of the
methodology and values established for the assessment of land for
property taxation based on the
current use of farm, forest, and open space land enrolled in
the Rhode Island Farm,
Open Space Program
established pursuant to chapter 44-27.
Forthwith
upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall meet at
the call of the Senate President and organize and shall
select a chairperson from among the
legislators.
Vacancies
in said commission shall be filled in like manner as the original appointment.
The
membership of said commission shall receive no compensation for their services.
All
departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such advice and
information,
documentary and otherwise, to said commission and its agents as
is deemed necessary or
desirable by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this
resolution.
The
Joint Committee on Legislative Services is hereby authorized and directed to
provide
suitable quarters for said commission; and be it further
RESOLVED,
That the commission shall report its findings and
recommendations to the
Senate no later than
December 1, 2011, and said commission shall expire on January 1, 2012.
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LC01748/SUB A
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