13-R390

2013 -- S 1045

Enacted 07/02/13

 

 

S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N

RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING THAT THE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION ESTABLISH A MUNICIPAL ADVISORY COUNCIL ON STATEWIDE PERMITTING

     

     

     Introduced By: Senator V. Susan Sosnowski

     Date Introduced: July 02, 2013

 

 

     WHEREAS, The State of Rhode Island must continue its effort to improve the business

climate and allow the use of technology to reduce the costs of government and improve

efficiency; and

     WHEREAS, It is essential to fully engage cities and towns in the process of statewide

permitting and inspections to establish a unified system and improve the manner in which the

state connects with businesses and municipalities; and

     WHEREAS, In the budget for fiscal year 2013, $300,000 in general revenue funds were

allocated to fund consultant services required to gather information pertaining to the State’s and

municipalities’ building plans, permit management, and building inspection methods. The Office

of the Building Commissioner, in conjunction with the State Fire Marshal and the Office of

Regulatory Reform, were instructed to use this information to develop criteria for an online

building permits system; and

     WHEREAS, Municipal and state officials, builders, businesses, and, ultimately, the

citizens of the State of Rhode Island, will be better and more efficiently served by the

coordination and uniformity of a statewide permitting system; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

respectfully requests that the director of the department of administration create and establish a

municipal advisory council on statewide permitting” (hereinafter “Council”) consisting of five

(5) members. Each member shall be an appointed or elected official of a Rhode Island city or

town; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That this Senate directs the advisory Council to develop specific and

comprehensive recommendations for a statewide process for electronic plan review, permit

management, and inspection as required under subsections 23-27.3-108.2(c)(2), (3) and (e) of the

Rhode Island General Laws, and to encourage full participation in such a statewide process from

every city and town in the state of Rhode Island; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That this Senate directs the council to advise and make recommendations

on increasing municipal participation in the state’s efforts to improve e-permitting processes; and

be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the director of the department of

administration.

     

=======

LC02947

=======