Chapter 308
2022 -- S 2277
Enacted 07/06/2022

A N   A C T
RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- BLOCK ISLAND UTILITY DISTRICT ACT OF 2017

Introduced By: Senators Sosnowski, DiMario, Picard, F Lombardi, Felag, Lombardo, and Ciccone

Date Introduced: February 16, 2022

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
     SECTION 1. Section 45-67-7 of the General Laws in Chapter 45-67 entitled "Block Island
Utility District Act of 2017" is hereby amended to read as follows:
     45-67-7. Compensation of the board -- Employees of the utility district.
     (a) Members of the board of utility commissioners shall not be entitled to receive
compensation for attendance at scheduled and special meetings of the board of utility
commissioners, but shall be entitled to reimbursement of the actual and necessary expenses
incurred in the performance of their duties. The salaries, compensation, and expenses of employees
and agents of the utility district shall be paid solely out of funds of the utility district. No part of
the earnings of the utility district shall inure to the benefit of any private person.
     (b) The board may enter into employment contracts with its executive employees. The
board shall have the authority to approve employee benefit plans, including fringe benefits such as,
but not limited to, pension, health, disability, and other insurances.
     (c) No member of the board of utility commissioners shall directly or indirectly engage or
participate in the proceeds of any contract or agreement to supply anything of value or receive
anything of value from the utility district. The prohibition set forth in this subsection may be waived
by a vote of four (4) of the board of utility commissioners if, and only if, the board of utility
commissioners shall have first obtained an opinion of the attorney general and/or the Rhode Island
ethics commission based on full disclosure of all relevant facts that the waiver does not contravene
state law and is otherwise in the best interests of the consumers served by the utility district.
     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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LC004661
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